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Domains of Early Learning Guidelines Toolkit

Introduction

This toolkit provides resources to early childhood educators and enables them to choose effective strategies to promote young children's overall development within the context of an early learning classroom while using their state's early learning guidelines. It categorizes the resources according to the domains outlined in the Interactive Head Start Early Learning Outcomes Frameworkopens in new window: Ages Birth to Five — a comprehensive framework that identifies 5 broad areas of early learning and development including approaches to learning, social and emotional development, language and literacy, cognition, and perceptual, motor, and physical development. Early childhood educators can use the resources from the domains in this list that most closely relate to the areas of learning and development identified in their state's early learning guidelines.

Resources are divided into four categories:

  • Not Researched — Practices that have not been validated by research. They include resources where other early childhood professionals have posted practices they use in their own classrooms as well as practices without any evident research basis.
  • Research-Based — Programs/practices developed using "empirical findings derived from systematic analysis of information, guided by purposeful research questions and methods."
  • Evidence-Based — These are programs/practices "with demonstrated impact in randomized controlled trials."
  • Directories/Clearinghouses — These are interactive databases or stable documents where programs or strategies relating to the early childhood domains have been researched, evaluated, and categorized based on level of effectiveness.

1 From p. 10 of Tseng, V. (2012). The uses of research in policy and practice. Social Policy Report, 26 (2), 1-16. Retrieved from https://wtgrantfoundation.org/resource/the-uses-of-research-in-policy-and-practice/the-uses-of-research-in-policy-and-practiceopens in new window .

2 Tseng, 2012, p. 11


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American Psychological Association. (2026, April 2). Domains of early learning guidelines toolkit. https://www.apa.org/education-career/k12/early-learning-domains

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Not Researched

  • Scholastic Teachers: Where Teachers Come Firstopens in new window
    This website is powered by Scholastic that provides resources, tools, strategies, ideas and activities to promote student learning pre-K through grade 12. Includes blogs, forums, scholastic publications, multimedia and products. 
    Copyright, registered and trademarked 2018

Research-Based
  • Healthy South Dakota: Physical Activity in Schoolsopens in new window
    This website includes different strategies, resources and data around the incorporation of physical activity, healthy eating as well as health and wellness for schools, teachers, administrators and parents.
    Copyright 2023
  • Harvard Center for the Developing Childopens in new window
    The Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University utilizes a science-based approach to creating policies and practices that will promote positive developmental outcomes for children facing adversity. The Center collaborates locally and globally with a network of research, practice, policy, community, and philanthropic leaders to design, test, and implement these ideas. Their site includes resources on early childhood health including toxic stress, neglect and mental health under their “Science” sectionopens in new window .
    Copyright 2018
  • National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)opens in new window
    NICHD conducts and funds research focusing on childhood and reproductive health with a focus on human development throughout the entire life process. It is one of the National Institutes of Health in the United States Department of Health and Human Services.
    Last updated Dec 30, 2017
  • The National Survey of Children’s Health (NSCH) Data Resource Centeropens in new window
    This website provides data on multiple, intersecting aspects of childhood such as physical and mental health, access to quality health care, and the child’s family, neighborhood, school and social context. Users can compare national and US census region findings for children of different ages, race/ethnicity, income levels, health status and health care uses.
  • Healthy Childrenopens in new window
    This resource provides information from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), programs, activities, policies and guidelines, publications and other childhood health resources. Healthy Children is committed to promoting the optimal physical, mental, and social health and well-being for all infants, children, adolescents and young adults.
    Copyright 2018
  • National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC)opens in new window
    NAEYC is the world's largest organizations working on behalf of young children. It conducts conferences and meetings, accredits early childhood programs, and designs professional development resources and training programs. Publications include: two professional, peer-reviewed journals; one research-based magazine; a scholarly journal; books, standards, position statements and policy pieces. 
    Promoting Young Children’s Social and Emotional Healthopens in new window : This article provides strategies for teachers to promote the social and emotional health of children.
Evidence-Based
Directories/Clearinghouses

  • Child Trends Lifecourse Interventions to Nurture Kids Successfully (LINKS) Databaseopens in new window
    A continually updated database of programs that work and don't work to enhance children's development. In the area of early childhood education, it includes physical development and health, literacy knowledge and skills, language development, social and emotional development, and mathematics knowledge and skills.
    Copyright 2018

  • Child Care Health and Safetyopens in new window
    Child Care & Early Education Research Connections offers a list of resources (reports, papers, fact sheets, briefs, summaries and reviews) focused on child care health and safety, including research on strategies to promote health and safety.
    Published July 2016

Updated January 2019
Not Researched

  • Scholastic Teachers: Where Teachers Come Firstopens in new window
    A website powered by Scholastic that provides resources, tools, strategies, ideas and activities to promote student learning pre-K through grade 12. Includes blogs, forums, scholastic publications, multimedia and products. 
    Copyright, registered and trademarked 2018

  • Gryphon Houseopens in new window
    Gryphon House offers high quality books to educators and caregivers. Their website also provides free downloadable materials and ideas for activities focused on different learning areas of early childhood including art, science, language, math, movement and play, music, science, literacy, and social and emotional development. They provide resources for early childhood education and development as well.
Research-Based

  • National Center for Pyramid Model Innovations (NCPMI)opens in new window   
    NCPMI takes the research that show which practices improve the social-emotional outcomes for young children with or at risk for delays or disabilities, and creates products and resources to help decision-makers, caregivers and service providers apply these best practices. Most of these free products are available for immediate view, download and use. 
    Copyright 2018

  • Harvard Center on the Developing Childopens in new window
    The Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University utilizes a science-based approach to creating policies and practices that will promote positive developmental outcomes for children facing adversity. The Center collaborates locally and globally with a network of research, practice, policy, community and philanthropic leaders to design, test and implement these ideas.
    Copyright 2018

  • National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC)opens in new window  
    NAEYC is the world's largest organization working on behalf of young children. It conducts conferences and meetings, accredits early childhood programs, and designs professional development resources and training programs. Publications include: two professional, peer-reviewed journals; one research-based magazine; a scholarly journal; books, standards, position statements and policy pieces. 
Evidence-Based

  • Head Start Early Childhood Learning & Knowledge Center (ECLKC): Social and Emotional Developmentopens in new window
    The ECLKC Social and Emotional Development webpage offers strategies to help young children develop positive social relationships, self-concept and self-efficacy, and self-regulation, and to promote emotional and behavioral health. It also provides resources and references for evidence-based practice for the social and emotional development domain. Additionally, the Effective Practice Guideopens in new window for social and emotional development provides effective teaching practices to promote areas of children’s social and emotional development including their relationships with adults, relationships with children, emotional functioning, and sense of identity and belonging.
    Last updated  June 11, 2018

  • Center on the Social and Emotional Foundations for Early Learning (CSEFEL)opens in new window
    CSEFEL is focused on promoting the social emotional development and school readiness of young children birth to age 5. It is a national resource center funded by the Office of Head Start and Child Care Bureau for disseminating research and evidence-based practices to early childhood programs across the country. The preschool training modules provide evidence-based strategies for promoting the social-emotional needs of young children.
    Modules updated  December 2013

  • Missouri Department of Mental Healthopens in new window
    This resource by The Missouri Department of Mental Health (DMH) provides families, caregivers, and early childhood professionals with access to knowledge, tools, and resources to support the social and emotional health of young children from birth to age 8. 

Directories/Clearinghouses

  • What Works Clearinghouseopens in new window
    What Works Clearinghouse continually reviews research on different programs, products, practices and policies in education. Find What Works!opens in new window searchable index offers evidence of intervention effectiveness for early childhood education in the areas of cognition, early reading/writing, mathematics achievement, oral language, phonological processing, print knowledge, functional abilities, social-emotional development and language competencies.

  • Child Trends Lifecourse Interventions to Nurture Kids Successfully (LINKS) Databaseopens in new window
    A continually updated database of programs that work and don't work to enhance children's development. In the area of early childhood education, it includes physical development and health, literacy knowledge and skills, language development, social and emotional development, and mathematics knowledge and skills.

Updated January 2019
Research-Based
  • National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC)opens in new window
    NAEYC is the world's largest organization working on behalf of young children. It conducts conferences and meetings, accredits early childhood programs, and designs professional development resources and training programs. Publications include: two professional, peer-reviewed journals; one research-based magazine; a scholarly journal; books, standards, position statements and policy pieces. This webpage explains how to support children’s approaches to learning by playing with them.
Not Researched
  • PBS Parents: Child Development Trackeropens in new window
    This resource provides information on child development and early learning for parents. Educational games and activities are offered for early learning areas including math, science, reading and language, and social and emotional development. This website also provides information on how to best support children with learning disabilities.
    Copyright 2018
Evidence-Based
Updated January 2019
Research-Based
  • National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC)opens in new window
    NAEYC is the world's largest organization working on behalf of young children. It conducts conferences and meetings, accredits early childhood programs, and designs professional development resources and training programs. Publications include: two professional, peer-reviewed journals; one research-based magazine; a scholarly journal; books, standards, position statements and policy pieces. This web page provides information on persistence and problem solving in preschool.
Not Researched
Evidence-Based
Updated January 2019
Not Researched
Research-Based
  • Harvard Center on the Developing Childopens in new window
    The Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University utilizes a science-based approach to creating policies and practices that will promote positive developmental outcomes for children facing adversity. The Center collaborates locally and globally with a network of research, practice, policy, community, and philanthropic leaders to design, test and implement these ideas. This webpage includes a training module to empower and support families so they can engage in meaningful conversations with their children and advance their language and lifelong learning.  
    Copyright 2018
  • National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC)opens in new window
    NAEYC is the world's largest organization working on behalf of young children. It conducts conferences and meetings, accredits early childhood programs, and designs professional development resources and training programs. Publications include: two professional, peer-reviewed journals; one research-based magazine; a scholarly journal; books, standards, position statements and policy pieces. This web page is a search on language development that yields several results on ways to support language learning in young children.
  • US Department of Health and Human Services National Institutes of Health (NIH)opens in new window
    Part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, NIH is the nation’s medical research agency which makes important discoveries that improve health and save lives. This webpage provides information and resources on different health topics, including speech and language developmental milestones.
Evidence-Based
Directories/Clearinghouses
  • What Works for Early Language and Literacy Developmentopens in new window  
    This Child Trends fact sheet uses the results of 15 random assignment experimental evaluations to categorize literacy and language programs and intervention strategies into three categories: not proven to work, mixed finding and found to work. 
    Published June 2011
  • What Works Clearinghouseopens in new window  
    What Works Clearinghouse continually reviews research on different programs, products, practices and policies in education.  Find What Works!opens in new window  searchable index offers evidence of intervention effectiveness for early childhood education in the areas of cognition, early reading/writing, mathematics achievement, oral language, phonological processing, print knowledge, functional abilities, social-emotional development and language competencies. 
    Created 2002
  • Child Trends Lifecourse Interventions to Nurture Kids Successfully (LINKS) Databaseopens in new window  
    A continually updated database of programs that work and don’t work to enhance children’s development. In the area of early childhood education, it includes physical development and health, literacy knowledge and skills, language development, social and emotional development, and mathematics knowledge and skills. 
    Copyright 2018
  • Implications for Early Care and Education Policyopens in new window
    Child Care & Early Education Research Connections offers a list of resources (reports, papers, executive summaries and reviews) focused on supporting early parent engagement in linguistically diverse families to promote young children’s learning.   
  • Encyclopedia of Children’s Healthopens in new window
    The Encyclopedia of Children's Health includes in-depth articles that cover various medical conditions, disorders and pediatric diseases, and contains a section about behavioral, physical and cognitive development. This webpage has information about language development.  
    Copyright 2018
  • U.S. Department of Education Early Learningopens in new window (PDF, 194KB)
    The U.S. Department of Education’s Early Learning website provides resources and information regarding the Department’s programs, initiatives, and research which seek to promote high-quality learning, improve the early learning workforce and ensure program effectiveness. The Talk, Read, and Sing Together Everyday! webpage provides tips for preschool teachers and other early childhood education programs providers that support early language development and dual language learning.
Updated January 2019
Not Researched
  • Scholastic Teachers: Where Teachers Come Firstopens in new window  
    A website powered by Scholastic that provides resources, tools, strategies, ideas and activities to promote student learning pre-K through grade 12. Includes blogs, forums, scholastic publications, multimedia and products.
    Copyright, registered and trademarked 2018
Research-Based
Evidence-Based 
Directories/Clearinghouses
Updated January 2019
Not Researched

  • Literacy Center Education Networkopens in new window
    The Literacy Center Education Network is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with a mission to deliver free, professionally-designed education material to preschool-aged children. Through the internet, they distribute education material directly to children in their homes, libraries and schools. 
    Copyright 2023

  • Scholastic Teachers: Where Teachers Come Firstopens in new window
    A website powered by Scholastic that provides resources, tools, strategies, ideas and activities to promote student learning pre-K through grade 12. Includes blogs, forums, scholastic publications, multimedia and products. Additionally, Early Childhood Todayopens in new window has Scholastic articles with activities in the curriculum areas of art, blocks, cooking, dramatic play, language and literacy, math, music and movement, outdoor play, sand and water play, and science.
    Copyright, registered and trademarked 2018

Research-Based

  • Reading Rocketsopens in new window
    Reading Rockets is a national multimedia project that offers research-based and best-practice information on teaching kids to read and helping those who struggle with reading. It is funded by the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Special Education Programs. The library at Reading Rocketsopens in new window  provides teachers with effective, research-based strategies to help build and strengthen literacy skills in print awareness, phonological awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, comprehension and writing. 
    Launched 2001; 2018

  • Get Ready to Read!opens in new window
    Get Ready to Read! is a service of the National Center for Learning Disabilities. It is designed to support educators, parents and young children in the development of early literacy skills in the years before kindergarten. Intended for use with all children, the resources and information provided promote skill-building, communication between adults, and ways to address concerns. They develop and deliver programs and promote research to improve instruction, assessment and support services for individuals with learning disabilities. 
    Copyright 2018

  • National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC)opens in new window
    NAEYC is the world's largest organization working on behalf of young children. It conducts conferences and meetings, accredits early childhood programs, and designs professional development resources and training programs. Publications include: two professional, peer-reviewed journals; one research-based magazine; a scholarly journal; books, standards, position statements and policy pieces. This webpage provides resources for parents and teachers on literacy.
  • National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)opens in new window (PDF, 583KB)
    NICHD conducts and funds research focusing on childhood and reproductive health. It is one of the National Institutes of Health in the United States Department of Health and Human Services. This webpage provides information on early literacy knowledge and instruction.
Evidence-Based
  • Head Start Early Childhood Learning & Knowledge Center (ECLKC): Effective Practice Guidesopens in new window
    The Head Start Early Learning Outcomes Framework (ELOF) Effective Practice Guides provide information about domain-specific teaching practices that support children’s development. The guides show what these practices look like in early learning settings. They also help staff reflect on and improve their teaching practices.

  • Center for Early Literacy Learning (CELL)opens in new window
    The goal of the Center for Early Literacy Learning (CELL) is to promote the adoption and sustained use of evidence-based early literacy learning practices. This site has resources for early childhood intervention practitioners, parents and other caregivers of children — birth to age 5 — with identified disabilities, developmental delays, and those at-risk for poor outcomes. CELL is a research-to-practice technical assistance center funded by the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Special Education Programs, Research to Practice Division, and is a major initiative of the Center for Evidence-Based Practices at the Orelena Hawks Puckett Institute. 
    Copyright 2016

  • All Children Can Readopens in new window
    This website is built on a framework that incorporates stages of literacy development and key components of reading into instructional strategies for children with dual sensory challenges. Content is organized around evidence-based strategies identified as being effective in building emergent literacy skills and moving children along a continuum toward independent reading. It is funded by the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Special Education Programs. 
    Created 2006; l ast updated 2012  

Directories/Clearinghouses

  • What Works for Early Language and Literacy Developmentopens in new window
    This Child Trends fact sheet uses the results of 15 random assignment experimental evaluations to categorize literacy and language programs and intervention strategies into three categories: not proven to work, mixed finding and found to work.
    Published June 2011

  • Child Trends Lifecourse Interventions to Nurture Kids Successfully (LINKS) Databaseopens in new window
    A continually updated database of programs that work and don’t work to enhance children’s development. In the area of early childhood education, it includes physical development and health, literacy knowledge and skills, language development, social and emotional development, and mathematics knowledge and skills.
    Copyright 2018

  • Precursors to Early Literacy Resource Listopens in new window (PDF, 179KB)
    Child Care & Early Education Research Connections offers a list of resources (reports, papers, executive summaries and reviews) focused on early literacy, including research on strategies to improve language and literacy skills during preschool.
    Published June 2007

  • US Department of Education: Early Learning Resourcesopens in new window
    The Department of Education’s mission is to promote student achievement and preparation for global competitiveness by fostering educational excellence and ensuring equal access through creating policies, conducting research, and focusing national attention on key educational issues. This webpage provides resources on early learning, including literacy.  

Updated January 2019
Not Researched
  • Scholastic Teachers: Where Teachers Come Firstopens in new window  
    A website powered by Scholastic that provides resources, tools, strategies, ideas and activities to promote student learning pre-K through grade 12. Includes blogs, forums, scholastic publications, multimedia and products. Additionally,  Math Play: How Young Children Approach Mathopens in new window has information about how mathematical experiences should build upon play and natural relationships between learning and life in their daily activities, interests, and questions.  
  • PBS Kids Lab opens in new window
    PBS Kids Lab is a mobile resource which provides literacy and math games, activities, videos, apps, and books in both English and Spanish for children ages 3 to 8. Early childhood professionals can also access educational resources and view the research conducted on the learning resources offered by PBS Kids Lab. Funded by a 5-year Ready to Learn Grant from the U.S. Department of Education.
    Copyright 2015
Research-Based
  • NAEYC Position Statement, Early Childhood Mathematics: Promoting Good Beginningsopens in new window  (PDF, 237KB) 
    A position statement of the National Association of Young Children and the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics on best practices in early childhood mathematics.  
    Adopted 2002; updated 2010
  • Center for Early Education in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (CEESTEM)opens in new window  
    This project supports early childhood educators in creating hands-on, interactive classroom activities to develop and use scientific inquiry processes to explore and better understand their environments. Resources include cooking recipes, card games, math games, and various other games. 
  • Development and Research in Early Math Education (DREME)  opens in new window
    The DREME Network seeks to advance early mathematics research and promote the development of young children’s math skills from birth to age eight. Early learning professionals can register on DREME’s website to access free resources related to promoting children’s early math skills that are designed to be intentional, developmentally appropriate, engaging, and fun. Modules are provided for teachers to support them in implementing classroom practices in different areas of early mathematics.
    Copyright 2018 
  • National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) opens in new window
    NAEYC is the world's largest organization working on behalf of young children. It conducts conferences and meetings, accredits early childhood programs, and designs professional development resources and training programs. Publications include: two professional, peer-reviewed journals; one research-based magazine; a scholarly journal; books, standards, position statements and policy pieces. This web page provides resources for playful math learning at school. Additionally, resources to encourage math learning at home can be found hereopens in new window .
Evidence-Based
  • Early Childhood Learning & Knowledge Center (ECLKC) opens in new window
    The Head Start Early Learning Outcomes Framework (ELOF) Effective Practice Guides provide information about domain-specific teaching practices that support children’s development. The guides show what these practices look like in early learning settings. They also help staff reflect on and improve their teaching practices. This resource includes effective practice guides under “cognition” for several mathematical concepts including emergent mathematical thinking, counting and cardinality, operations and algebraic thinking, and measurement. Additionally, News You Can Useopens in new window discusses ways teachers, parents and caregivers can be more intentional in how they support young children’s math learning and school readiness.
    Updated 2018
Directories/Clearinghouses
  • What Works Clearinghouseopens in new window  
    What Works Clearinghouse continually reviews research on different programs, products, practices and policies in education.  Find What Works!opens in new window  searchable index offers evidence of intervention effectiveness for early childhood education in the areas of cognition, early reading/writing, mathematics achievement, oral language, phonological processing, print knowledge, functional abilities, social-emotional development and language competencies.  
    Created 2002
  • Child Trends Lifecourse Interventions to Nurture Kids Successfully (LINKS) Databaseopens in new window  
    A continually updated database of programs that work and don't work to enhance children's development. In the area of early childhood education, it includes physical development and health, literacy knowledge and skills, language development, social and emotional development, and mathematics knowledge and skills.
    Copyright 2018
    Early Mathematics Resource Listopens in new window
    Child Care & Early Education Research Connections offers a list of resources (reports, papers, executive summaries and reviews) focused on early mathematics, including a section on programs and instruction.   
Updated January 2019
Not Researched

  • Scholastic Teachers: Where Teachers Come Firstopens in new window
    A website powered by Scholastic that provides resources, tools, strategies, ideas and activities to promote student learning pre-K through grade 12. Includes blogs, forums, scholastic publications, multimedia and products. 
    Copyright, registered and trademarked 2018

Research-Based
Evidence-Based
Directories/Clearinghouses
Research-Based
Evidence-Based
Updated January 2019 
Not Researched

  • National Arts Education Associationopens in new window (NAEA)
    NAEA is a community of practice where visual arts teachers, scholars, researchers and professors, students, administrators, art museum educators, and artists come together around a shared belief in the power of the arts in developing human potential. The Instructional Resources Galleryopens in new window offers a variety of resources and lesson plans curated by NAEA members for pre-K to grade 12. Membership is required for access to all lesson plans.
    Copyright 2018

  • PBS Parents: Encouraging Self-Expression Through Artopens in new window   
    A resource with information on child development and early learning for parents which provides access to educational games and activities inspired by PBS KIDS programs. Educational activities are offered for early learning areas including math, science, reading and language, and social and emotional development. This website also provides information on how to best support children with learning disabilities.

  • Scholastic Teachers: Where Teachers Come Firstopens in new window
    A website powered by Scholastic that provides resources, tools, strategies, ideas and activities to promote student learning pre-K through grade 12. Includes blogs, forums, scholastic publications, multimedia and products. 
    Copyright, registered and trademarked 2018

Research-Based
  • National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC)opens in new window
    Creative Arts NAEYC is the world's largest organization working on behalf of young children. It conducts conferences and meetings, accredits early childhood programs, and designs professional development resources and training programs. Publications include: two professional, peer-reviewed journals; one research-based magazine; a scholarly journal; books, standards, position statements and policy pieces.
  • The Importance of Creative Arts in Early Childhood Classroomsopens in new window (PDF, 675KB) 
    This article provides an overview of creative arts, including developmentally appropriate practices, and how to integrate the creative arts in classrooms.
    Copyright 2014
  • The Center for Early Childhood Education: Creative Artsopens in new window
    A research and training institute created by Eastern Connecticut State University working to improve the quality of early care and education by conducting research, providing professional development opportunities, and developing and providing access to training videos. Provides resources and videos on different areas including physical, cognitive, language and literacy, mathematics, science, creative arts, and social and emotional development.
Evidence-Based
Updated January 2019

It is important when reading research to understand what high-quality research is. Understanding Quality Researchopens in new window identifies key aspects to keep in mind when reading the literature, which include determining whether:

  1. The research was peer reviewed.

  2. The authors provide enough information to evaluate the study's quality.

  3. There are any potential threats to the study's validity, such as:

    1. Internal validity — are there alternative explanations for the results that are not explored by the study?

    2. External validity — can the findings be generalized to populations that differ from the study's sample?

    3. Construct validity — are the study's key concepts and constructs adequately defined and measured?

Early Childhood Research Organizations

These organizations are dedicated to early childhood research.

  • Child Care and Early Education RESEARCH CONNECTIONSopens in new window
    RESEARCH CONNECTIONS promotes high quality research in child care and early education and the use of that research in policy making. The website offers research and data resources for researchers, policy makers, practitioners and others.

  • Child Trendsopens in new window
    Child Trends is a nonprofit, nonpartisan research center that studies children at all stages of development. Child trends conducts high-quality research and identifies emerging issues relating to childhood, evaluates important programs and policies, and provides data-driven, evidence-based guidance on policy and practice.

  • Center on the Developing Child at Harvard Universityopens in new window    
    The Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University utilizes a science-based approach to creating policies and practices that will promote positive developmental outcomes for children facing adversity. The Center collaborates locally and globally with a network of research, practice, policy, community, and philanthropic leaders to design, test and implement these ideas.

  • Crane Center for Early Childhood Research and Policyopens in new window  
    Part of the College of Education and Human Resources at the Ohio State University, this center seeks to improve children’s learning and development at home, in school, and in the community through research, policy, and practice relating to children’s well-being.
    Copyright 2018 

  • Mathematica Policy Research: Early Childhoodopens in new window
    Mathematica evaluates programs designed to improve the well-being of young children and their families, particularly those at greatest risk in our society.

  • National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)opens in new window
    NICHD conducts and funds research focusing on childhood and reproductive health. It is one of the National Institutes of Health in the United States Department of Health and Human Services.

  • Office of Planning, Research and Evaluation (OPRE)opens in new window
    The Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation (OPRE) studies Administration for Children and Families (ACF) programs and the populations they serve through rigorous research and evaluation projects. These include evaluations of existing programs, evaluations of innovative approaches to helping low-income children and families, research syntheses and descriptive and exploratory studies.

  • SRI International Center for Learning and Developmentopens in new window
    SRI’s Center for Learning and Development conducts research and evaluations to improve policies and programs for children, youth, and families from community services and school partnerships to statewide early childhood programs and federal special education and disability policies.

Early Other Early Childhood Organizations

These national organizations are dedicated to promoting high quality early childhood education through research-based measures.

Updated January 2019
Last updated: April 2026Date created: 2019

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