These resources offer examples of program evaluations and provide information on evaluating the effectiveness of early childhood programs, including State and local examples.
Building and Using Coordinated State Early Care and Education Data Systems: A Framework for State Policymakers (PDF - 2,458 KB)
Early Childhood Data Collaborative (2010)
Discusses the development of the Early Childhood Data Collaborative to support State policymakers' efforts to build and use coordinated early care and education (ECE) data systems, strategies for laying the foundation for the strategic development of coordinated State ECE data systems, Federal support for coordinated State ECE data systems, and 10 fundamentals of coordinated State ECE data systems.
Conclusions and Implications [What Makes a Difference: Early Head Start Evaluation Findings in a Developmental Context]
Brooks-Gunn, Love, Raikes, & Chazan-Cohen (2013)
Monographs of the Society for Research in Child Development, 78(1)
View Abstract
Reports on a program evaluation of children from low-income families, half of whom received Early Head Start services in the first 3 years of life, and half of whom did not. Highlights the findings and lessons learned that pertain to two broad arenas: how to better plan and implement effective intervention strategies in the first 5 years of life and how understanding changing and diverse developmental trajectories can contribute to more effective early childhood programs and the public policies that shape them.
A Developmental Approach to Child Welfare Services for Infants, Toddlers, and Their Families: A Self-Assessment Tool for States and Counties Administering Child Welfare Services (PDF - 491 KB)
ZERO TO THREE (2012)
Helps States and counties assess how child welfare policies and practices address the developmental needs of infants, toddlers, and their families; identifies how policies and practices can be improved; and engages partners in taking action.
Early Childhood Profiles
National Center for Children in Poverty
Highlights States' policy choices that promote health, education, and strong families in addition to other contextual data related to the well-being of young children.
Early Childhood State Advisory Councils: Status Report April 2013 (PDF - 11,540 KB)
Administration for Children and Families (2013)
Discusses the status of the State Advisory Councils on Early Childhood Education and Care grant program that enables States to lead the development and enhancement of high-quality, comprehensive early childhood systems that optimize childhood service delivery so that children arrive at school ready to learn and prepared to excel.
Estimating the Effects of Head Start on Parenting and Child Maltreatment
Zhai, Waldfogel, & Brooks-Gunn (2013)
Children and Youth Services Review, 35(7)
View Abstract
Examines the effects of Head Start participation on parenting and child maltreatment in a large and diverse sample of low-income families in large U.S. cities using data from the Fragile Families and Child Well-Being Study.
Family Voices: Piloting a New Qualitative Measure of Family Engagement for Head Start and Early Head Start Staff and Families (PDF - 2,468 KB)
Aikens, Bandel, Akers, Lyskawa, & Jerald (2014)
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Office of Planning, Research and Evaluation & Mathematica Policy Research
Focuses on the development of qualitative instruments designed to better understand family engagement in Head Start and Early Head Start; draws on pilot data collected during the 2012-2013 program year; and provides information about the performance of the piloted interview protocols, revisions made to instruments based on their performance, and the best methods for gathering qualitative information about family engagement experiences from families and staff in future studies. An instrument package with the revised set of interview protocols is included.
Key Elements of a QRIS Validation Plan: Guidance and Planning Template (PDF - 1,249 KB)
Tout & Starr (2013)
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Office of Planning, Research and Evaluation; Child Trends; & Quality Initiatives Research and Evaluation Consortium
Provides a practical tool that States and evaluators can use to develop Quality Rating and Improvement Systems (QRIS) validation efforts.
Outcomes for Children Served Through IDEA's Early Childhood Programs (PDF - 926 KB)
Early Childhood Outcomes Center (2011)
Reports that recent data suggests that high percentages of infants and toddlers who received services through Part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and preschoolers who received early childhood special education through IDEA show greater than expected developmental progress and many are exiting the program functioning within age expectations.
Markers That Matter: Success Indicators in Early Learning and Education
Preskill, Jones, & Tengue (2013)
Analyzes results of a multiphased process, interviews with 40 early childhood experts, and a literature review in early learning and related fields to identify and vet a set of early childhood indicators and emerging themes to support the early learning field. Examples where indicators have helped to support collaboration on behalf of better outcomes for young children are discussed.
What Works?: A Study of Effective Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation Programs
Georgetown University Center for Child and Human Development (2009)
Presents results from an indepth study of six early childhood mental health consultation programs demonstrating positive child, family, staff, and/or program outcomes. The report addresses essential program components, staff training and supervision, intervention intensity, and targeted outcomes. Also see the Evaluation Toolkit. (PDF - 644 KB)
State and local examples
Children's Futures' First Five Years: Lessons and Early Outcomes of a Community Change Initiative (PDF - 302 KB)
Walker (2008)
Summarizes the evaluation of an early childhood initiative in Trenton, NJ. The report addresses key findings on collaboration and community change, program improvements, and early outcomes for the families the initiative served.
Family Central, Inc., Grant Program: Final Report
Weinstein & Salmon (2013)
Broward's Infrastructure Design to Guide and Sustain Permanency for Young Foster Children
View Abstract
Provides information on a federally funded program designed to increase the number of child care centers equipped to provide quality child care in Broward County, FL, and respond to the complex social, emotional, behavioral, and family strengthening/support needs of foster care children (ages birth-5 years) by creating a certification process with a set of quality standards.
Inform Influence Impact: The Role of Research in Supporting a Community's Commitment to Its Children (PDF - 1650 KB)
Case Western Reserve University, Center on Urban Poverty and Community Development (2009)
Presents activities and outcomes of Invest in Children, a 10-year, public-private partnership created to increase the development, funding, visibility, and impact of early childhood services in Cuyahoga County, OH.
Transforming Systems for Parental Depression and Early Childhood Developmental Delays: Findings and Lessons Learned From the Helping Families Raise Healthy Children Initiative (PDF - 1,567 KB)
Schultz, Reynolds, Sontag-Padilla, Lovejoy, Firth,& Pincus (2013)
RAND Corporation
Discusses the findings of an evaluation of the Helping Families Raise Healthy Children initiative, the fourth phase of the Allegheny County Maternal and Child Health Care Collaborative's efforts to implement changes in the local system of maternal and child health care. The initiative targeted three components of service delivery: screening and identification of at-risk families through three pathways within and between the Part C early intervention system and the maternal and child health care system, referrals for those identified as being at risk, and engagement in relationship-based services in both the Part C early intervention and behavioral health systems.