Giving Compass' Take:

• Erica Greenberg outlines steps needed to collect preschool data and distribute it fairly so that evidence-based policies can be created for preschool. 

• How can philanthropy support this issue? What data should be collected? 

• Learn why universal preschool is the most cost-effective method of distribution.

The National Institute of Early Education Research released its annual State of Preschool Yearbook, the definitive source for information on state-funded preschool programs. The yearbook highlights spending, enrollment, and features of program quality reported directly by state preschool administrators. This information is critical for early childhood research, policymaking, and advocacy.

But why is the yearbook the only source for annual, comprehensive programmatic information on preschool? How can the classroom quality data, child assessment scores, and detailed student characteristics many states already collect be made available as they are for K–12 education?

The first step in solving the preschool data problem is, not surprisingly, gathering more data. We need to know more about routine data collection in states and large school districts, including the types of data most likely to inform research, policy, and practice.

Second, we need to raise awareness about the importance of data sharing and remove barriers to doing it.

Third, we need to provide the infrastructure and incentives to make preschool data publicly available.

Read the full article about democratizing evidence by Erica Greenberg at Urban Institute.