Research and Publications

A World of Opportunity: Inspirations from Abroad for Early Learning at Home

02.19.2008 | Showcases the practical findings and the transformational nature of a study mission undertaken by a diverse group of 21 people (including members of the media, public school leadership and childcare program directors, policymakers, and business and philanthropic leaders) to investigate early learning best practices in England and Finland. | Read | Watch Video

Early Childhood Education Study Tour Briefing Book

09.01.2007 | Compares and contrasts Early Childhood Education (ECE) systems in the U.S. (Washington State wherever possible), the UK, and Finland. Includes an overview of social, economic, philosophical, and historical issues informing/influencing early learning, and a review of ECE systems, costs and funding, family benefits and leave policies, and qualifications and compensation of the early learning workforce in all three countries. | Read

Achieving High-Quality Early Learning and Care in Washington State

09.01.2005 | Analyzes workforce and systemic components that influence the quality of early learning and care in Washington State. | Read

Beyond the Mandate: An Analysis of a Survey of School District Early Learning Programs in Washington State

09.01.2004 | In an effort to assess the quantity and quality of early learning programs conducted by school districts in Washington state during the 2003-2004 school year, the Economic Opportunity Institute (EOI) and the Washington State Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) surveyed school districts in the summer of 2004. This survey was intended to be a follow-up to a 2002 survey of similar nature completed by EOI. | Read

Strategic Pathways Toward Statewide Universal Pre-Kindergarten and Full-Day Kindergarten in Washington State

07.01.2004 | The evidence is in on the benefits of high-quality early learning programs, but Washington State has yet to create an integrated system of pre-kindergarten and full-day kindergarten with well-trained teachers and adequate public funding. This brief reviews successful, promising models in the state and lays out possible routes for secure public funding to make universal pre-kindergarten and full-day kindergarten a reality. | Read

The Early Childhood Education Career and Wage Ladder: A Model for Improving Quality in Early Learning and Care Programs

07.01.2004 | High-quality early learning and care are fundamental to ensuring educational excellence and children’s readiness to learn. Twenty-five years of research and analysis have shown that children in high-quality early learning and care programs are more likely to graduate from high school, attend college, and earn more as adults. They are also less likely to commit crime than children who have not had the benefit of high-quality early learning. | Read