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Impact Areas

Quality Standards

NIEER offers ECE quality standards tools and evaluation research for measuring ECE environments. Our research is based on data from classroom observations, monitoring, surveys, and assessments in infant/toddler, preschool, and elementary settings.

Our Quality Standards research provides data-driven information that identifies what factors contribute to high-quality early education and the barriers for achieving high-quality early education. We hope our work informs both the policies and practices that programs, cities, states, and the federal government use to implement and improve new and existing early education programs. Early education quality is critical to its effectiveness in supporting young children’s development.

Report

2 out of 3 state-funded preschool programs lack adequate standards for assistant teachers

In a new report, Help Wanted: Assistant Teacher Policies in State-Funded Preschool, NIEER examined state preschool policies that encourage the preparedness and support of assistant teachers. The report finds that most states fail to provide assistant pre-k teachers with the pay, training, and other supports that recognize the importance of their role as full team members in high quality classrooms.

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Featured Research

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Help Wanted: Assistant Teacher Policies in State-Funded Preschool
Learning & Development

How to Choose a Preschool Curriculum

Quality Standards

Download NIEER’s Benchmarks for High-Quality Pre-K

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Quality Standards

Implementing 15 Essential Elements for High Quality

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Program Effectiveness

New Jersey Abbott Preschool Program Longitudinal Effects Study through Grade 10 (APPLES-10)

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Access Our Research Library

The National Institute for Early Education Research's comprehensive research library serves as a valuable resource for educators, policymakers, researchers, and anyone interested in the field of early childhood education. The library is a repository of research reports, policy briefs, academic papers, and other publications related to early childhood education. Many of the resources in the NIEER Research Library are made available for free as downloadable PDFs or accessible through links.

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Learn More About Our Work

    Policy Landscapes

    NIEER's policy landscapes offer insights into early childhood education policies, enrollment, and nationwide funding. Advocates, policy-makers, and researchers rely on them to improve the quality and accessibility of early childhood education. 

    Research & Program Evaluation

    We evaluate nationwide early childhood programs, rigorously assessing impact. Data-driven evaluations span years, revealing strengths and weaknesses for targeted improvements. 

    NIEER Developed Tools

    NIEER has created numerous proprietary research tools that include assessments, surveys, cost calculators, and evaluations, used by researchers and educators to gather data, analyze information, and evaluate the effectiveness of early childhood education programs. 

    International Journal of Childcare & Education Policy

    The International Journal of Childcare and Education Policy (IJCEP) is a scholarly, peer-reviewed journal focusing on childcare and education policy research for young children. 

    Technical Assistance

    NIEER provides technical assistance to state advocates on improving the quality of early care and education programs and understanding the costs associated with high-quality programs. NIEER is producing a series of Guides to PreK Expansion and other resources to support state and national advocates in their efforts to ensure all children have access to high-quality early care and education. 

    Partnership with New Jersey

    New Jersey has a rich history of supporting early learning, evidenced by the state's Supreme Court decisions, legal regulations, financial investments, and committed state leadership. However, a pivotal turning point came with a landmark legal decision that sparked significant changes and laid the groundwork for progress over the last two decades.