Race to the Top: Early Learning Challenge

The Race to the Top — Early Learning Challengeopens in new window grant competition focuses on improving early learning and development programs for young children. States will win and receive funding based on an application that outlines their plan to comprehensively and effectively reform early childhood education. States' reform efforts should focus, in particular, on:

• Increasing the number and percentage of low-income and disadvantaged infants, toddlers and preschoolers who are enrolled in high-quality early childhood education programs.
• Designing and implementing an integrated system of high-quality early learning programs and services.
• Ensuring that assessments, if used, conform to the recommendations of the National Research Council's reports on early childhood education.

Browse the winning data from 2011, 2012 and 2013 to see how the proposed reforms can improve your classroom.

• Awarded states for the Race to the Top — Early Learning Challenge Grant with amount of requested funding and final abstracts for Fiscal Years 2011, 2012 and 2013 (updated 6/2017).
• List of all states that applied for the Race to the Topopens in new window — Early Learning Challenge Grant with applications, score sheets and reviewers’ comments for Fiscal Years 2011, 2012 and 2013. 
• Annual Performance Reports for Race to the Topopens in new window — Early Learning Challenge from 2012 through 2016 which highlight the work of awarded states (updated 11/2017). 

KIDS COUNT Data Center

Annie E. Casey Foundation's KIDS COUNT data centeropens in new window is an interactive data tool that allows users to view state-by-state and cross-data on measures of child well-being. Access hundreds of indicators, download data, and create reports and graphics that support smart decisions about children and families.

Building Bright Futures

Vermont features the Building Bright Futures Early Childhood Data Reporting Systemopens in new window. The comprehensive, longitudinal data reporting system allows districts in their state to track results and drive continued improvement. This can serve as a model to other states when developing reporting systems.