The Office of Applied Research (OAR) is dedicated to strengthening the links between early childhood research, practice, and policy. It provides practitioners access to high-quality research and supports the development and number of researchers entering the field of early childhood.  

OAR's goals and research agenda were greatly influenced by the recommendations of several experts who convened at the Wingspread Conference (2007; Racine, WI).

OAR is pleased to offer research-related resources to those interested in working with young children and to those interested in moving the scholarship of early childhood education forward. These resources (e.g., Using EC Research, Accessing EC Research, Sources of Data, Graduate School and Other Research Opportunities) are also located to the left of this page on the navigation tool bar.

OAR conducts several conference sessions each year in an effort to move it's research-to-practice and -policy agenda forward.