Over the past few years, a growing amount of attention has been paid at the federal and state levels to longitudinal data systems – specifically those that track student achievement across the K-12 spectrum.   Recently, the focus on longitudinal data systems has been expanded to P-20 (typically pre-k through workforce) systems.  While the movement to create statewide longitudinal data systems continues, it is important to note that statewide data systems operate within the broader early childhood system.  This early childhood system encompasses program standards, early learning standards, a professional development system, family supports, quality improvement initiatives (such as quality rating and improvement systems), financing, licensing and regulatory systems, and connections to services that address the needs of young children and their families (i.e., early intervention, health care, etc.).  

NAEYC has compiled a set of resources - which will be updated as more become available - that highlight federal initiatives that support the development of statewide, comprehensive early childhood data systems, as well as information on the need for, uses of, and development of state comprehensive early childhood data systems.
 

Federal Legislation

• Federal Legislation for P-20 data systems
  
• Statewide Longitudinal Data Systems
   

National Organizations

• State Data Systems Development
  • Building and Using Coordinated State Early Care and Education Data Systems (Data Quality Campaign, Note:  NAEYC is an endorsing partner of the Data Quality Campaign)
  • CLASP DataFinder (Center for Law and Social Policy)
  • Early Childhood Workforce Systems Initiative (NAEYC)
  • Getting Started:  10 Fundamentals of Coordinated State Early Care and Education Data Systems (Data Quality Campaign)
  • Many Missing Pieces: The Difficult Task of Linking Early Childhood Data and School-Based Data Systems (New America Foundation)
  • P-20 Longitudinal Data Systems:  What is the information we need, how do we get it, what do we do with it? (Data Quality Campaign/National Center for Children in Poverty)
  • Policy Resources (Birth to Five Policy Alliance)
  • QRIS Resources (NAEYC)
  • State of Early Childhood and School-Age Workforce Registries (The National Registry Alliance)
  • 10 Essential Elements of a Statewide Longitudinal Data System (Data Quality Campaign)
  • Workforce Data (Center for the Study of Child Care Employment)
    
• State Early Childhood Advisory Councils
  • National Governor’s Association
  • Office of Head Start
  • Pre-K NOW
    

Data Collection and Analysis

• Research Connections
   

Data Sources

National organizations, as well as federal entities, can serve as resources for not only learning about early childhood data systems, but also obtaining the most recent research and early childhood data at both the national and state levels.  The sources listed below offer information in a range of areas including indicators of child well-being and demographic data, state and federal early childhood budget appropriations,  resources on the development and implementation of comprehensive statewide early childhood data systems, as well as state public policies that support the development of comprehensive statewide data systems.

• Federal Government
  • Bureau of Labor Statistics
  • Census Bureau--American Community Survey
    
  • Child Care and Development Fund State Plans
  • National Center for Education Statistics
  • National Child Care Information and Technical Assistance Center
• State and National Organizations
  • Birth to Five Policy Alliance
  • Center for Law and Social Policy
  • Child Trends
  • Data Quality Campaign
    
  • Early Childhood Workforce Systems Initiative
  • Forum on Child and Family Statistics
  • Lewis Mumford Center, University at Albany, SUNY
  • Kids Count
  • National Association for Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies
  • National Center for Children in Poverty
    
  • National Infant and Toddler Child Care Initiative
  • Urban Institute