Partnering for Sustainable Improvements
We convene decision-makers at all levels—including fellow researchers, colleagues at state agencies and early childhood organizations, families, educators, community leaders, business owners, policymakers, philanthropists, and more—and collaborate with them to promote equitable, efficient, data-informed improvements in early childhood systems.
Nebraska Early Childhood Workforce Commission
The Institute convened the Nebraska Early Childhood Workforce Commission from 2017 to 2020 to determine how best to expand and strengthen the state’s early childhood workforce.
More than 40 state and local leaders defined a vision, goals, and recommendations to guide statewide efforts to ensure high-quality early care and education for all children and families in Nebraska. Each year, the commission issues updates on initiatives aligned with its goals.
Inclusive Needs Assessment and Planning
Through surveys, focus groups, community events, and conversations, the Institute listens to Nebraskans with diverse backgrounds and perspectives, learning about their needs and priorities for early care and education.
These efforts were instrumental in securing Nebraska Preschool Development Grant funding and developing the Nebraska Early Childhood Strategic Plan, and they continue to inform community-based efforts to increase access for all young children.
Featured Publications
Equitable Evaluation
From 2020 to 2022, the Institute convened the Nebraska Evaluation Network Team composed of evaluation stakeholders from more than 20 state partners and agencies. Together, these collaborators developed principles to guide the evaluation of early care and education systems, with a focus on ensuring quality and equity for Nebraska’s young children and their families.
Their work informed evaluation of the Nebraska Preschool Development Grant
Data-Informed Decision-Making
The Institute collaborates with state agencies and organizations, early childhood providers, and communities to analyze and facilitate access to integrated, cross-program early childhood data in support of data-informed decision-making.
The Institute helps lead the Nebraska Early Childhood Integrated Data System (ECIDS)
Accessible Professional Preparation Pathways
In spring 2022, the Institute convened more than 70 higher education faculty from 15 colleges and universities across Nebraska for a full-day event focused on issues identified in a 2021 survey of higher education faculty and in the Workforce Commission report.
The convening served as a first step in launching Responsive Equitable Systems for Preparing Early Childhood Teachers (RESPECT) across Nebraska—a collaborative effort to create accessible pathways to early childhood teacher preparation.
Related News & Media Mentions
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