Pew Partners

The National Institute for Early Education Research, directed by Dr. W. Steven Barnett: Based at Rutgers University, NIEER conducts and publicly disseminates non-partisan, independent research to answer key policy maker questions about the design and implementation of high-quality preschool. It also commissions research from a wide array of partner organizations. The website features the latest studies and media reports, as well as interactive discussions. Pre-K Now, directed by Libby Doggett: With funds from the Trusts and others, this project helps inform the public and policy debates on early education at the national level and supports public education campaigns in selected states to advance high-quality preschool for all kids. Through sophisticated media and communications strategies, the project helps to build and mobilize interest among key constituencies to support early education policy changes based on sound research. Inquiries about support for preschool campaigns are accepted on an ongoing basis from state-based organizations. To date, Pew funds, through the project, have supported efforts in Arkansas, California, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Kansas, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Washington State, and Wisconsin. Committee for Economic Development: In February 2002, CED released Preschool for All: Investing in a Productive and Just Society, a policy statement that calls for high-quality pre-kindergarten for all kids. With support from the Trusts and additional funders, CED is building on that statement with an aggressive outreach campaign, both at the national level and in states, to identify, recruit, and support business leaders to actively support the expansion of early education opportunities. CED is now developing a new body of research on the economic development benefits of preschool, starting with a national conference on December 3, 2004, and culminating in a new policy statement in spring 2006. Fight Crime: Invest in Kids: Fight Crime represents over 2,500 police chiefs, district attorneys, and victims of violence in helping policymakers understand that effective investment in children is the best way to reduce crime and violence. Fight Crime is enlisting its membership to mobilize specifically around the issue of offering preschool for all kids and educate the media, the public, and policymakers about the importance of providing quality preschool for all children. Education Law Center: The Education Law Center (ELC) is strengthening state-level litigation efforts designed to increase access to high-quality early education for all children starting at age 3. Staff assists legal teams in states to include pre-kindergarten as a requested legal remedy in K-12 finance equity cases. Staff also helps educate lawyers nationally about how to use precedence and research-based evidence in crafting legal arguments for preschool. Hechinger Institute on Education and the Media: Located at Teachers College at Columbia University, the Hechinger Institute is providing print and broadcast editors and reporters with the tools and resources they need to better understand the importance of prekindergarten, to write about it more effectively, and to frame it as an educational issue. Education Writers Association: EWA is developing research and policy summaries, electronic news and resource services, and conference sessions for newspaper, radio, and television and online reporters and editors throughout the country to help them cover prekindergarten issues more thoroughly as they emerge in their states and communities. National League of Cities: NLC, through surveys, focus groups and one-on-one interviews, is determining the level of mayoral knowledge and interest in prekindergarten issues in the country.  They will then identify local leaders who are, or have the potential to be strong champions in their home states as well as nationally in support of quality prekindergarten for all children starting at age three.  Frederick D. Patterson Research Institute: A constituent part of the United Negro College Fund, the Frederick D. Patterson Research Institute is the nation's foremost research organization focusing on the educational status and attainment of African Americans of all ages from preschool through adulthood.  The Institute is conducting research on understanding and improving how different early education opportunities available in rural areas impact the academic achievement of African American students.  The Rural Early Education Initiative will examine the unique aspects of rural early educational opportunities both formal and informal on educational attainment by investigating the educational and social forces within these communities. Voices for America's Children: Voices is working to increase the number of state-based children's advocacy organizations that make prekindergarten a priority issue.   National Conference of State Legislatures: NCSL is carrying out a variety of strategies to provide information and support to all state policymakers on high-quality pre-K. They are creating a network of interested legislators, hosting annual policy institutes, developing written materials, and providing intensive support in selected states.   Guidance for States on Evaluation and Accountability for Pre-K Programs: The Pew Charitable Trusts, with co-funding from the Foundation for Child Development, is managing a new project to develop guidance for state leaders on evaluation and accountability systems for state preschool programs.

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document last updated 8/21/2009