Using Cross-Sector Data to Support Early Childhood Development

Project overview

Prenatal and early childhood experiences have a significant impact on children’s development and their educational trajectory (Currie & Almond, 2011). Providing support and early intervention for families with young children can promote healthy child development, reducing the need for later interventions and increasing the likelihood of self-sufficiency in adulthood (Bradbury et al., 2012, Penn, 2011). However, there is limited evidence connecting public investments in children on school readiness and early grade outcomes using publicly available data in the state administrative system. This project aims to strengthen understanding of how longitudinal and cross-sector data can inform policy and evidence-based decision making in North Carolina.

The goal of this cross-sector project is to understand how early childhood education, health, and social services relate to academic achievement and engagement in kindergarten to third grade.

Partnerships

This project was initiated through the Informed Decision-Making Collaborative (IDMC) initiative, led by the Hunt Institute in collaboration with the Office of the Governor and the Government Data Analytics Center in North Carolina. With funding from the North Carolina Office of State Budget and Management (OSBM), we collaborated with North Carolina’s Department of Public Instruction (DPI) and the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) to address the following research questions:

Project BRIEFS