Early Childhood Data Sources

State Laws Series: Definitions of Child Abuse and Neglect
(2011) Child Welfare Information Gateway
Provides State laws that define the conduct, acts, and omissions that constitute child abuse or neglect that must be reported to child protective agencies. Summaries of laws for all States and U.S. territories are included.

Annual Data Report on Child Abuse and Neglect - Child Maltreatment 2009
(2010) Children's Bureau
Provides national and state statistics on topics that include reports of abuse and neglect, child characteristics, fatalities, perpetrators, and services provided to children and families. See also, past Child Maltreatment reports.

Child Welfare State Statutes Database
(updated regularly) Child Welfare Information Gateway
Allows you to search state statutes for issues related to child abuse and neglect, child welfare, and adoption. Provides summaries of state statutes (and full text, in some cases).

State Child Welfare Policy Database
(various dates, this database was launched in 2009) Child Trends
Provides state-by-state policy information on a range of child welfare topics.

State Pre-K Assessment Policies: Issues and Status
(February 2012) Educational Testing Service
Examines current approaches states are using to assess children enrolled in Pre-K programs, some of the challenges of assessing young children's learning, and suggested sound practices for states to consider implementing. Includes a summary chart of assessment practices used by the states on page 14.

Assuring Better Child Health and Development (ABCD) Program
(updated periodically) NASHP and the Commonwealth Fund
The ABCD program works to strengthen primary health care systems that support the healthy development of young children, ages 0-3. Since 2007, the ABCD Screening Academy has worked with states to increase the use of a developmental screening tool during well-child care visits and improve the identification of children with or at risk for developmental delays. This Web site provides information about state specific ABCD program resources and activities.

Autism Legislation Database
(2008 to present) NCSL
Provides information about autism legislation introduced in the 50 states and the District of Columbia from the 2008 legislative session to present.

Autism Spectrum Disorders: State Part C and Part B Initiatives to Serve a Growing Population
(April 2009) Project Forum (PDF: 146kb)
Summarizes findings from a survey of IDEA Part C and Part B program staff related to autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) in the areas of professional development, technical assistance, early identification efforts and direct services.

Leaving Children to Chance: NACCRRA's Ranking of State Standards and Oversight of Small Family Child Care Homes: 2012 Update
(2012) NACCRRA
Assess state policies for small family child care homes, where up to six children are cared for in the home of the provider for compensation.

Child Care in America: 2011 State Fact Sheets
(2011) NACCRRA
These fact sheets provides data about key indicators that describe child care nationally and in individual states. Section one documents the need for and use of child care in Amercia, including information about the current cost, quality and impact of child care on children, families and the economy. Section 2 contains individual state child care fact sheets.

We CAN Do Better: 2011 Update - NACCRRA's Ranking of State Child Care Center Regulation and Oversight
(2011) NACCRRA
More than 11 million children younger than age 5 spend an average of 35 hours a week in some type of child care setting. This report is the third in a series beginning in 2007 that scores and ranks the states on 10 program requirements and five oversight benchmarks for child care centers. The average score in 2011 was 87 out of a possible 150 points (compared to 70 in 2007 and 83 in 2009). No state earned an A. The Department of Defense earned a B, and 4 states earned a C. 21 states earned a D. 26 states earned a failing grade.

Parents and the High Cost of Child Care: 2011 Update
(2011) NACCRRA
Highlights 2011 state data about child care costs for infants, 4-year-old children and school-age children in child care centers and family child care homes across the country. Also compares the cost of child care to household income, expenses and college tuition.

Research Connections
(Updated regularly) Funded by OCC and OPRE
This Website provides scholarly research, policy briefs, government reports, data, and instruments on child care and early education from a wide range of disciplines and sources, including multiple federal agencies. It includes interactive tools that allow users to refine their searches, download full text documents, build customized tables on state policies, compare state demographics, and analyze research data online.

State Profiles of Early Childhood Advisory Councils
(2011) NGA Center, in partnership with the HHS
As part of the Improving Head Start Act of 2007, states were mandated to create Early Childhood Advisory Councils (ECACs) to develop coordinated systems of early childhood education and care. These state profiles provides an overview of each ECAC receiving federal funds, its administering agency, history, membership, activities, priorities, and communication strategies. The information is based on a review of state grant applications and updates from council leadership in April 2011. See also, State Early Childhood Advisory Councils: An Overview of Implementation across the States (December 2011).

Vision to Practice: Setting a New Course for Early Childhood Governance
(2011) Goffin Strategy Group
During recent years there has been an increasing focus on reducing the fragmentation, uneven quality, and inequity that characterize early childhood programs and services. Governance is a key component of this work and plays an essential role in building early childhood systems that are comprehensive and coordinated across multiple agencies. This report examines efforts to build governance into comprehensive early childhood systems.

The Next Step in Systems-Building Early Childhood Advisory Councils and Federal Efforts to Promote Policy Alignment in Early Childhood
(November 2009) New America Foundation
Provides an update on state Early Childhood Advisory Councils (ECACs) as of November 2009, describes federal initiatives in early childhood systems building, a "sobering" history of collaboration, the use of federal stimulus funding and a snapshot of where states stand in developing their ECACs.

State Advisory Councils
(various dates) HHS ACF
Provides links to information about state advisory councils (SACs), including: Fact Sheet, Contacts list, Awards List, October 6, 2010 SAC webinar, and State Advisory Council Applications.

State ECCS Plans
(various dates) ECCS Initiative
The State Early Childhood Comprehensive Systems (ECCS) Initiative, supported by the Maternal and Child Health Bureau, provides grants to help states plan, develop, and implement collaborations and partnerships to support families and communities in their development of children who are healthy and ready to learn at school entry. This page provides links to state ECCS plans.

Early Childhood Comprehensive Systems (ECCS): State Summaries
(based on information from FY 2005 and 2006) NCCP
Provides summaries of the states' Early Childhood Comprehensive Systems (ECCS) Initiatives supported by the Maternal and Child Health Bureau, based on information from FY 2005 and 2006.

Annual Early Hearing Detection & Intervention (EHDI) Data
(most recent data is from 2009) CDC
Provides national and state data from the CDC EHDI Hearing Screening and Follow-up Survey. See also, information about EHDI State Programs.

Dual Language Learners in State Early Learning Guidelines and Standards
(March 2012) OHS, National Center on Cultural and Linguistic Responsiveness
This resource includes an at-a-glance table that provides a snapshot of where Dual Language Learners (DLLs) are referenced in state and territory guidelines, standards, and supporting documents, as well as a table that includes portions of text referring to dual language learners from the guidelines or standards.

Statewide Early Learning Standards
(2011) NIEER
These charts (pages 186-192 of NIEER's 2010 State Preschool Yearbook) contain the following data from the states on their early learning standards: Name of early learning standards document; Web address of early learning standards document; Year standards adopted; Year standards last revised; Application of standards to programs; Supports for early learning standards in state pre-K provided by states; Are standards linked to child assessments?; Domains addressed in standards.

Infant/Toddler Early Learning Guidelines Fact Sheet
(2010) National Infant & Toddler Child Care Initiative (PDF: 132kb)
Provides information on the various ways States and Territories represent infants and toddlers in their early learning guidelines.

Inside the Content of Infant-Toddler Early Learning Guidelines: Results from Analyses, Issues to Consider, and Recommendations
(2008) Scott-Little, C., Kagan, S. L., Stebbins Frelow, V., & Reid, J.
Columbia University and UNC-Greensboro
This paper discusses the findings from an analysis of infant-toddler early learning guidelines (ELSs) from 21 states that address the knowledge, skills, and characteristics caregivers should seek to facilitate in children younger than three years of age. The authors also provide recommendations to improve the content of infant-toddler ELGs.

Early Learning Standards: Results from a National Survey to Document Trends in State-Level Policies and Practices
(2007). Scott-Little, C., Lesko, J., Martella, J. & Milburn, P. Early Childhood Research and Practice
This article presents data from a national survey showing that almost all states have developed early learning standards for prekindergarten-age children and a number of states have also developed infant-toddler early learning standards. The authors discuss the implications for early childhood policies and practices.

Supporting Our Youngest Children: Early Head Start Programs in 2010
(March 2012) CLASP (PDF: 172kb)
Based on Head Start Program Information Reports (PIR), this analysis of data describes the children and families served by Early Head Start (EHS) in 2010, EHS programs and staff in 2010, and trends from 2002 to 2010.

Early Head Start Research and Evaluation Reports
(various dates) Office of Head Start, HHS
Provides findings from Early Head Start research for program, regional, federal staff, and training and technical assistance providers.

Putting Children and Families First: Head Start Programs in 2010
(February 2012) CLASP (PDF: 157kb)
The analysis provides information on Head Start children, families, programs and staff in 2010, as well as information on how the data has changed from 1997 to 2010.

Head Start Research Projects and Findings
(various dates) Office of Head Start, HHS
Provides a list of links to federally–funded Head Start Research projects and reports of their findings.

Head Start Program Fact Sheets
(updated annually) Office of Head Start, HHS
Provides key data on Head Start programs, appropriations, staff qualifications, the characteristics of children and families enrolled in Head Start and the services they receive. Includes some Early Head Start program data.

Data Resource Center for Child and Adolescent Health
(most recent data is from 2009-2010) CAHMI
Provides access to national, state, and regional data findings on over 100 indicators from the National Survey of Children’s Health (NSCH) and the National Survey of Children with Special Health Care Needs (NS-CSHCN). It includes State Ranking Maps that compare each individual state's performance to the national average on select outcomes and indicators from the 2001, 2005/06, and 2009/10 NS-CSHCN.

Pediatric Medical Homes: Laying the Foundation of a Promising Model of Care
(2011) Project Thrive at NCCP
This report discusses the current status of the medical home concept, the number and characteristics of children served by medical homes, and opportunities to further leverage medical homes to achieve better health outcomes for young children, with a particular focus on the coordination of care for vulnerable children.

Medical Home State Data
(most recent data is from 2009-2010) CAHMI & APA
Provides quick access to data on how children in each state experience receiving care within a medical home.

Medical Home Initiatives & Resources by State
NCMHI (various dates)
The NCMHI is a cooperative agreement between the Maternal and Child Health Bureau (MCHB) and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and is housed in the AAP Division of Children with Special Needs. This Web page provides state-by-state information on medical home initiatives and resources.

Child Health USA 2010
(October 2010), HRSA
This annual report provides graphical and textual summaries on the health status and service needs of America’s children, covering over 50 health-related indicators.

The National Children's Study
(updated regularly) Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development at NIH
The National Children’s Study is examining the effects of the environment, including factors such as air, water, diet, sound, family dynamics, community and cultural influences, and genetics on the growth, development, and health of children across the United States, following them from before birth until age 21 years.

See also, Indicators of Child Well–Being and Mental Health

America's Youngest Outcasts: State Report Card on Child Homelessness
(2009) NCFH
Provides comprehensive state-by-state data on the status of homeless children in America.

IDEA Data - Part C Tables and Notes
(updated annually) DAC
Provides public access to data reported annually by states under Part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Includes state-by-state, rank-ordered, and historic trend data.

National Early Intervention Longitudinal Study (NEILS)
(1997 – 2007) OSEP
This 10-year longitudinal study followed a nationally representative sample of 3,338 children and their families who began early intervention services in 1997 – 1998 through their experiences in early intervention and into early elementary school. Findings from the study provide information about the characteristics of children and families receiving early intervention services, the services they receive, and the outcomes they experience. See all reports from NEILS.

Part C Updates, 12th Edition
(2011) NECTAC
Contains state and federal information about program administration, state policies and implementation practices related to the Early Intervention Program for Infants and Toddlers with Disabilities - Part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).

Promoting Social-Emotional Wellbeing in Early Intervention Services: A Fifty-state View
(2009) NCCP
Summarizes findings from a study done to determine how states are leveraging different policy choices to support the integration of social-emotional developmental strategies into Part C early intervention services. Part C coordinators from forty-eight states' participated in the study.

State Efforts to Meet the Early Childhood Transition Requirements of IDEA
(April 2009) Project Forum, NECTAC and NECTC (PDF: 190kb)
Highlights policies and practices adopted by six states (FL, IN, KY, NH, NM and WV) to meet the early childhood transition requirements of IDEA.

IDEA Data - Part B Tables and Notes
(updated annually) DAC
Provides public access to data reported annually by states under Part B (including Section 619, the Preschool Grants Program) of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Includes state-by-state, rank-ordered, and historic trend data.

Pre-Elementary Education Longitudinal Study (PEELS)
(2003 – 2010) OSEP
This study followed a nationally representative sample of 3,104 children with disabilities who were 3 through 5 years of age in 2003-04. Findings provide information on the characteristics of children receiving preschool special education, the services they receive, their transitions across educational levels, and their performance over time on assessments of academic and adaptive skills. PEELS data collection began in fall 2003 and was repeated in winter 2005, 2006, 2007, and 2009. PEELS data can be accessed through the Data Analysis System (DAS), which allows users to select variables to generate weighted frequencies and crosstabs as well as standard errors. See also, reports from PEELS.

Section 619 Profile, 18th Edition
(2011) NECTAC
Contains information on state policies, programs, and practices under the Preschool Grants Program - Part B, Section 619 of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).

State Efforts to Meet the Early Childhood Transition Requirements of IDEA
(April 2009) Project Forum, NECTAC and NECTC (PDF: 190kb)
Highlights policies and practices adopted by six states (FL, IN, KY, NH, NM and WV) to meet the early childhood transition requirements of IDEA.

2011 Kids Count Data Book
(2011) Annie E. Casey Foundation
This annual report profiles the well-being of America's children on a state-by-state basis and ranks states on 10 key measures of child well-being.

America's Children: Key National Indicators of Well-Being, 2011
(July 2011) Federal Interagency Forum on Child and Family Statistics
Provides updates on the well-being of children and families in the United States across a range of domains, including family and social environment, economic circumstances, health care, physical environment and safety, behavior, education, and health.

America’s Future: Latino Child Well-Being in Numbers and Trends
(2010) National Council of La Raza and Population Reference Bureau
This database and report provide data on a variety of factors related to the well-being of Latino children in each of the 50 states, as well as an overview of national and state-level trends for Latino children under age 18 relative to non-Hispanic White and Black children since the year 2000.

See also, Health / CSHCN and Mental Health

Full-Day Kindergarten in the States
(January 2012) Children's Defense Fund
This map provides a snap shot of the status of full-day kindergarten in America. A thorough review of the literature was done followed by research correspondence and calls with state department of education staff for clarification. Finally staff at all 50 state departments of education were given the opportunity to fact check.

Kindergarten: What States are Doing
(Updated regularly) Education Commission of the States
Provides reports that examine key components of each state's kindergarten policy for all 50 states.

Education Commission of the States' Online Kindergarten Database
(December 2010) Education Commission of the States
This database provides state policy information related to kindergarten for all 50 states. The information was gathered by conducting statutory reviews across all 50 states and by surveying the kindergarten specialist in each state department of education.

Basic Facts About Low-income Children, 2010: Children Under Age 3
(February 2012) NCCP
Basic Facts About Low-income Children, 2010: Children Under Age 6
(February 2012) NCCP
These fact sheets describe the demographic, socioeconomic, and geographic characteristics of young children and their families - highlighting important factors that appear to distinguish low-income and poor children from their less disadvantaged peers.

The Young Child Risk Calculator
(2011) NCCP
This online tool shows users how many children under age six in each state are experiencing serious risks to their development. The tool allows users to select from three age groups (0-3, 3-5, and 0-6), three economic risk factors (extreme poverty, poverty, low-income) and other risk factors known to affect children’s development.

Who Are America’s Poor Children? Examining Health Disparities by Race and Ethnicity
(July 2011) NCCP
This report looks at health disparities among poor children by race and ethnicity across the following six domains: family composition and poverty, food insecurity, environmental conditions, health insurance coverage, access to healthcare services, and health outcomes.

Income, Poverty and Health Insurance Coverage in the United States: 2009
(2010) U.S. Census Bureau
Provides data showing that the child poverty rate increased from 19 percent to almost 21 percent in 2009 and suggesting that more babies than ever before were born into poor families. The number and percentage of children living in deep poverty also increased. Research links poverty with a number of negative outcomes for children, including lower academic achievement, higher school drop-out rates, and increased health, behavioral, and emotional problems.

Low-income Children in the United States National and State Trend Data, 1998-2008
(November 2009) NCCP
Provides national and 50-state data on the characteristics of low-income children over the past decade.

50-State Policy Wizard
(2009) NCCP
Creates custom tables with information about state and federal policies that assist low-income families and children.

Unclaimed Children Revisited: The Status of Children's Mental Health Policy in the United States
(November 2008) NCCP
Updates a 1982 report on mental health services in the U.S. for children with mental health problems, those at risk, and their families. Most chapters include data related to early childhood mental health services. For example, in Chapter 3, see the section entitled "Services and Supports for Young Children", Table 3: "States’ Initiatives to Expand Early Childhood Mental Health" and Figure 2: "Scope of Funding for Early Childhood Mental Health Initiatives."

Promoting Social-Emotional Wellbeing in Early Intervention Services: A Fifty-state View
(2009) NCCP
Summarizes findings from a study done to determine how states are leveraging different policy choices to support the integration of social-emotional developmental strategies into Part C early intervention services. Part C coordinators from forty-eight states' participated in the study.

Coaching and Quality Assistance in Quality Rating Improvement Systems: Approaches Used by TA Providers to Improve Quality in and Education Programs and Home-based Settings
(January 2012) NCCP
Presents findings from an interview study of administrators overseeing statewide QRISs that investigated features of the professional development and on-site technical assistance available to center-based staff and home-based providers who participate in states’ Quality Rating Improvement Systems.

Early Childhood Workforce Systems Initiative: Database of State Policies
(updated regularly) NAEYC
A database of state policies that support the effective implementation of a state system of professional development for the early childhood workforce. Organized by the the following six policy areas: professional standards, career pathways, articulation, advisory structure, data and financing.

NPDCI Cohort I and II State Profiles
(various dates) NPDCI
Compilations of existing initiatives, plans, standards, and competencies related to early childhood professional development and/or inclusion in the NPDCI Cohort I and II states.

The State of Preschool 2011
(April 2012) NIEER
This annual Yearbook presents state-by-state data and describes national trends for enrollment in, quality of, and spending on state-funded preschool.

Votes Count: Legislative Action on Pre-K, Fiscal Year 2010
(2009) Pre-K Now
Looks at how each state is funding pre-k, which states are leading the effort to provide high-quality programs, which states are making the largest cuts and the possible consequences of those cuts, and how states are using stimulus funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to help fund early childhood programs.

Quality Rating and Improvement System National Learning Network (QRIS NLN)
(updated regularly) BUILD Initiative and Smart Start National Technical Assistance Center
Provides a variety of resources for states interested in developing or improving their QRIS, including a list of QRIS state contacts and a library of State Resources and Profiles that contains training guides, forms, and TA materials developed by individual states for their QRIS.

Coaching and Quality Assistance in Quality Rating Improvement Systems: Approaches Used by TA Providers to Improve Quality in and Education Programs and Home-based Settings
(January 2012) NCCP
Presents findings from an interview study of administrators overseeing statewide QRISs that investigated features of the professional development and on-site technical assistance available to center-based staff and home-based providers who participate in states’ Quality Rating Improvement Systems.

Quality Rating and Improvement Systems (QRIS): Inclusion of Infant/Toddler Quality Indicators
(2010, July) National Infant & Toddler Child Care Initiative (PDF: 808kb)
Summarizes the results of a review of 22 Quality Rating and Improvement Systems (QRIS) to identify those that include quality indicators specific to infants and toddlers.

The Child Care Quality Rating System (QRS) Assessment: Compendium of Quality Rating Systems and Evaluations
(2010) Child Trends and Mathematica Policy Research
The Office of Planning, Research and Evaluation at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services commissioned this compendium profiling 26 child care Quality Rating Systems. It includes a descriptive, comparative analysis of key elements of QRS obtained by examining the 26 QRS nationwide, as well as individual profiles of each QRS across the country.

A Review of School Readiness Practices in the States: Early Learning Guidelines and Assessments
(2010) Child Trends (PDF: 744kb)
This research brief summarized the findings from a study that examined approaches to school readiness assessments in all 50 states and DC, identifying 7 states that utilize assessments in order to monitor statewide levels of school readiness. The authors also provide key policy considerations for developing and utilizing school readiness assessments at the state level.

State Approaches to School Readiness Assessment
(updated August 2010) NCSL
Looks at how states assess school readiness and how readiness information is used within the states. Appendix A has a state-by-state list of state approaches.

Analysis of State Data Systems for Early Childhood Care and Education
(2011) Early Childhood Data Collaborative
This analysis of state data systems for early childhood care and education shows that states collect a significant amount of data on individual children, early care and education (ECE) program sites, and individual members of the ECE workforce. However, the data are mostly siloed by funding stream, incomplete, and unable to help policymakers answer basic policy questions about their state's ECE systems, support continuous improvement and determine whether their investments improve children's readiness for kindergarten and beyond.

A Study of States' Monitoring and Improvement Practices Under the IDEA
(2010) IES
This report provides a description of the nature and scope of states' IDEA Part B and Part C monitoring systems. Data on 20 states' monitoring systems in 2004–05 and 2006–07 were collected during two site visits.

Building and Using Coordinated State and Education Data Systems: A Framework for States
(2010) Early Childhood Data Collaborative
This paper discusses why states should build longitudinal data systems for early care and education, describes the ten fundamentals of a coordinated system with state examples, and provides guidance on how to ensure appropriate access to data, which includes building the capacity for stakeholders to use data for continuous improvement. See also, a related brochure - Getting Started: 10 Fundamentals of Coordinated State and Education Data Systems (2010).

Data Quality Campaign: 2009-10 Survey Results by State
(2010) DQC
The Data Quality Campaign (DQC) provides support to states for building longitudinal data systems that can follow student progress from early childhood through 12th grade and into postsecondary education. This Web site shows the progress states are making toward building and using robust longitudinal data systems for continuous improvement. A number of the DQC's 10 Essential Elements of a State Longitudinal Data System include items related to early childhood programs.

State Baby Facts
(February 2012) ZERO TO THREE
State factsheets presenting information about the status of infants, toddlers, and their families across the country.

Baby Matters: A Gateway to State Policies and Initiatives
(updated regularly) ZERO TO THREE
A database of state policies and initiatives on topics that impact infants, toddlers and their families.

Children's Budget 2011
(2011) First Focus, with support from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation
This annual guide provides an analysis of all federally funded programs that are meant to enhance the well-being of children across the country and how their appropriations levels have changed over the past five years.

Early Care and Education State Budget Actions FY 2011
(2011), NCSL
An annual survey of state fiscal decisions in early care and education policy and programs, including child care, prekindergarten, home visiting and other related early childhood programs.

Early Care and Education State Legislation Database
(updated regularly) NCSL
A searchable database of state legislation on issues related to child care and child care financing, early childhood services, prekindergarten, professional development, home visiting, infants and toddlers, and financing early education. It can be searched by state, topic, status, primary sponsor, bill number or keyword.

Early Childhood State Profiles
(Updated September 2011) Improving the Odds for Young Children Project, NCCP
A database of early childhood state policies related to: health and nutrition, early care and learning, and parenting and economic supports.

In the States
(updated regularly) CLASP
Includes data on: Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) participation; Head Start and Early Head Start participation; Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) expenditures; young child demographics and more. See also, CLASP's DataFinder tool, which allows users to create and download custom tables that present a national picture, a state picture or a comparative look at states and communities.

Recent State Policies/Activities: P-3 Early Learning & the Early Grades
(updated regularly) Education Commission of the States
This continuously updated database provides up-to-date information on state policy activity regarding early care and education. New policies from the current legislative session are listed first, followed by laws enacted as far back as 2000.

State and Education Public Policy Developments for Fiscal Year 2012
(2012) NAEYC
Highlights major state early care and education policy developments for fiscal year 2012, including: selected enacted legislation; new initiatives approved by the state executive branch; major funding increases, decreases, or level-funding; and additional significant fiscal or policy changes that impact early childhood education.

State Policy Initiatives to Improve Child Care for Infants and Toddlers
(updated regularly) CLASP
Provides examples of policy initiatives that states are undertaking to improve child care for infants and toddlers, including links to relevant legislation and regulations, a description of how the state developed and implemented the policy, and any cost data and evaluations or other data.