National Institute for Early Education Research

In 2022-2023, a CDA or equivalent was not a requirement for assistant teachers in over four-fifths of city-funded and/or operated preschool programs. Toledo, achieving a gold medal in the CityHealth's 2024 Annual Pre-K Policy Assessment, mandates a CDA or equivalent for assistant teachers. Elevating excellence in Early Childhood Education! Learn more about Assistant Teachers in State-funded Preschool Programs: https://lnkd.in/eA7yJisW 

NIEER’s International Journal of Child Care and Education Policy highlights researchers in Abu Dhabi studing the impact of parental involvement on kindergarteners in public schools . Their study found that regular parent–teacher communication was the strongest factor in promoting positive behavioral adjustment. It significantly reduced issues like arguing, sadness, and distractibility, as well as hyperactivity and other problem behaviors. https://lnkd.in/eSmcBRMT

Tomorrow, Apr 16, at 1pm ET, join leading early childhood experts from the Big Ten Early Learning Alliance for Parent Engagement and Partnerships in Early Childhood: Research from Across the Big Ten, a timely webinar exploring the vital role of family-school partnerships in promoting young children’s social, emotional, and academic development. RSVP here: https://lnkd.in/ejAewUfX

BELLE 2025 Spring Conference, Hablemos! Strengthening Dual Language Practice: Talk, Play, and Reading to Enhance Children's Development. 📚 Workshop Spotlight: Developing & Implementing Policy to Support MLs in Early Childhood Systems. Providing high-quality early learning experiences for multilingual learners (MLs) requires strong policies and clear guidance—but many administrators and educators face gaps in support. Join this interactive workshop to explore key policy principles that ensure ML children receive consistent, high-quality education every day. Hear from three school districts that have developed and implemented policies in their early childhood programs, and gain practical strategies to take back to your own community. Speakers: 👤 Lita Rodriguez-Tighe, Consultant, Cornerstone Learning Group  👤 Gissel Cristobal, Director of Early Childhood Education, Passaic Public Schools  👤 Adriana Birne, Director of Early Childhood Education, Union City Public Schools  👤 Ruth Hypolite-Cummings, Director, Early Childhood Education, Jersey City Public Schools.    Register now: https://lnkd.in/gMWuUvra #HablemosBELLE2025 #EarlyChildhoodEducation #DualLanguageLearning #PolicyMatters 

📢 Coming April 29: The 2024 State of Preschool Yearbook 📢 ❌ Too Many Kids Lack Access to Quality Pre-K ❌ Most three- and four-year-olds living in poverty do not attend preschool. Even fewer have access to high-quality programs. This educational inequity is widening the gap in literacy, math, and social development before children even enter kindergarten. State-funded preschool is expanding—with historic investments, growing enrollment, and evolving policies. But are we closing persistent gaps? And how are states responding to shifting federal priorities? The 2024 Yearbook reveals record growth alongside urgent challenges facing access, quality, and equity in early education. Policymakers, educators, and advocates will find critical insights to guide the next phase of progress. 📅 Mark your calendar: The full report drops on Tuesday, April 29. Subscribe to our e-news to receive your copy! https://lnkd.in/eekzTc5i

Join us Wednesday, April 9th, for Creating Supportive Early Childhood Education Systems for Multilingual Learners: Lessons from New Jersey In this webinar we will discuss the implementation of system-level support for multilingual learners in New Jersey publicly funded preschool programs. School district leaders from a variety of contexts will share what policies they have put into place as well as how they got there. The aim of the webinar is to provide real-time examples that may help other local education agencies to think about how to get started. RSVP today https://lnkd.in/eWMHYkD4 NIEER Moderators: Dr. Alexandra Figueras-Daniel, Assistant Research Professor & Bilingual ECE Policy Specialist, and Elise Genao, Bilingual ECE Training Specialist School Leader Panelists: Gissel Cristobal, Director of Early Childhood Education- Passaic Public Schools Liteove Rodriguez-Tighe, Consultant- Cornerstone Learning Group Nicole Petrolongo, Preschool Supervisor- GLOUCESTER TOWNSHIP PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Join us Wednesday, April 9th, for Creating Supportive Early Childhood Education Systems for Multilingual Learners: Lessons from New Jersey In this webinar we will discuss the implementation of system-level support for multilingual learners in New Jersey publicly funded preschool programs. School district leaders from a variety of contexts will share what policies they have put into place as well as how they got there. The aim of the webinar is to provide real-time examples that may help other local education agencies to think about how to get started. RSVP today https://lnkd.in/eWMHYkD4 NIEER Moderators: Dr. Alexandra Figueras-Daniel, Assistant Research Professor & Bilingual ECE Policy Specialist, and Elise Genao, Bilingual ECE Training Specialist School Leader Panelists: Gissel Cristobal, Director of Early Childhood Education- Passaic Public Schools Liteove Rodriguez-Tighe Tighe, Consultant- Cornerstone Learning Group Nicole Petronglo, Preschool Supervisor- Gloucester Township Public Schools

Keynote Speaker Announcement! We are beyond excited to announce that the incredible Sonia Manzano will be joining us as the keynote speaker for BELLE 2025 Spring Conference, Hablemos! Strengthening Dual Language Practice: Talk, Play, and Reading to Enhance Children's Development 🌟 Sonia's captivating story, passion for education, and groundbreaking work in advocating for bilingual education will inspire and empower educators who are dedicated to shaping the future of young learners. Known for her influential role as "Maria" on the beloved television show Sesame Street for over 40 years, Sonia Manzano has been a trailblazer in promoting cultural diversity, multilingualism, and the power of storytelling. Her remarkable career, which spans television, literature, and advocacy, has earned her numerous accolades, including multiple Emmy Awards and the prestigious National Medal of Arts. Sonia’s dedication to empowering children of all backgrounds and her lifelong commitment to improving educational opportunities make her an ideal voice for this powerful event. Join us for an unforgettable experience as Sonia shares valuable insights on the role of bilingual education in fostering inclusivity, promoting cultural understanding, and supporting academic success for dual language learners. 📍 Location: Livingston Student Center, Piscataway, NJ  📅 Date: Friday, June 6, 2025  🎟 Register Now: https://lnkd.in/gMWuUvra This is an event you won't want to miss! #HablemosBELLE2025 #EarlyLearning #BilingualEducation #DualLanguageEducation 

Saint Louis sets the bar in Pre-K education by requiring BA degrees for Lead Pre-K teachers, earning a gold medal in CityHealth's 2023 Pre-K assessment. Find out how your city measures up: https://lnkd.in/eA7yJisW #SaintLouisKids #PreKQuality #EarlyEducation

Join us Wednesday, April 9th, for Creating Supportive Early Childhood Education Systems for Multilingual Learners: Lessons from New Jersey In this webinar we will discuss the implementation of system-level support for multilingual learners in New Jersey publicly funded preschool programs. School district leaders from a variety of contexts will share what policies they have put into place as well as how they got there. The aim of the webinar is to provide real-time examples that may help other local education agencies to think about how to get started. RSVP today https://lnkd.in/eWMHYkD4 NIEER Moderators: Dr. Alexandra Figueras-Daniel, Assistant Research Professor & Bilingual ECE Policy Specialist, and Elise Genao, Bilingual ECE Training Specialist School Leader Panelists: Gissel Cristobal, Director of Early Childhood Education- Passaic Public Schools Liteove Rodriguez-Tighe Tighe, Consultant- Cornerstone Learning Group Nicole Petronglo, Preschool Supervisor- Gloucester Township Public Schools