🧩 Head Start has led inclusive early learning since before IDEA, ensuring children with disabilities are fully supported. Replacing its standards with state licensing risks this, as state inclusion rules remain inconsistent. 🔎 https://ow.ly/nGoS50Zyiob

Early learning outcomes are entirely contingent on quality experiences for children; quality is codified in the HSPPS. Check out these published stories featuring our report below. Washington Post: https://ow.ly/b3zJ50ZyFNI ABC News: https://ow.ly/Nmsm50ZyFNK Report: https://ow.ly/3ba150ZyFNJ

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Families are a child’s first teachers, and Head Start puts them at the center—referencing families 198 times across all operations! Yet state licensing lags far behind: only 21 states have family involvement policies, and just 12 require them. 📖 https://ow.ly/hHXI50ZyimN

📊 Head Start Program Performance Standards ≠ state child care licensing. 🌱 Head Start promotes child development; state licensing sets the minimum to operate. ⚠️ ZERO states match Head Start's teacher-to-child ratios from birth to age 5. 📖Learn more: https://ow.ly/g00350Zworv

👶 Quality matters. If Head Start were required to follow state child care licensing standards, 2-year-olds would see the biggest decline in teacher-to-child ratios. ⚠️ In 24 states, ratios would at least double. 📖 Learn more: https://ow.ly/u8lv50Zwolf

State child care licensing standards & Head Start Program Performance Standards (HSPPS) are not the same. If Head Start adopted state licensing standards, 97% of 2-year-olds in Early Head Start would face worse teacher-to-child ratios. 47 states + DC have weaker ratios. https://ow.ly/fFSV50ZweGq

📢 Join us for a NABE Webinar! Early childhood education is facing critical challenges, from educator shortages to system gaps for dual language learners. Let's discuss solutions together! 💡✨ 🗓️ Tuesday, August 4th ⏰ 4 PM ET Register today: nabe.org/advocacy-days/

Education policy is at a turning point. As states consider a new federal voucher framework, evidence matters. Our latest report examines voucher expansion, public investment, and educational opportunity. Read more: https://ow.ly/4ezk50ZpHlC #EducationPolicy #PublicSchools

Education policy is at a turning point. As states consider a new federal voucher framework, evidence matters. Our latest report examines voucher expansion, public investment, and educational opportunity. Read more: https://ow.ly/7bnp50ZkSP3 #EducationPolicy #PublicSchools #ChildrensEquityProject

Over 90% of U.S. students attend public schools. What happens to families who rely on strong, well-funded public schools? Our new report examines voucher growth, the narratives driving it, & what it means for public investment & opportunity. Learn more: https://ow.ly/aK1w50ZkNYb

International data show what happens when access to education is restricted. In Malaysia, undocumented children are barred from public schools, driving low literacy. In the DR, ID rules exclude many from school and jobs. In the US, Plyler helps ensure stability. Learn more: https://ow.ly/gJM650YTB2b

Family detention & separation are linked to serious mental health harms in children, including anxiety, depression, PTSD, sleep disruption, developmental regression, & more. Trauma can persist after release, affecting learning, behavior, & wellbeing. Learn more: https://ow.ly/KWrA50YQg8m

Public education is a cornerstone of our democracy. For over 40 years, Plyler v. Doe has upheld that all children—regardless of status—have a right to education. Exclusion impacts workforce, public health, and economic stability. Learn more: https://ow.ly/uLQF50YQg8c

In 2021, CEP examined standards for shelters serving unaccompanied immigrant children through a child development lens. We found key gaps in discipline policies—13 of 16 states didn’t prohibit seclusion, and some met none of our indicators. Learn more: https://ow.ly/Xzzw50YQfS8

As highlighted by the National Governors Association, early care & education systems face expiring COVID funds, rising costs, and admin burdens. These pressures shape access to stable, high-quality care. Learn more: https://ow.ly/sAjk50YQc5Z https://ow.ly/Hp1Z50YQc5Y

Our new report (coming soon) breaks down why access to education for all children who live in the U.S. still matters—and what’s at stake if this basic tenant of opportunity is weakened. 🧠 Subscribe to our newsletter to be notified when this timely report is released: https://cep.asu.edu/

In 2024, over 800k kids (birth to age 5) & pregnant women were served by Head Start—delivered through 3,325 early childhood programs across nearly every ZIP code in the U.S. & it only makes up 0.18% of the federal budget. Learn more: https://cep.asu.edu/resources/AdvancingEducationalOpportunity

Education is a right—but still needs protection. 📚 Plyler v. Doe guarantees access to public education for all children. Our report shows how federal civil rights protections build on it—and what’s at risk if they’re weakened. Learn more: https://cep.asu.edu/resources/SafeguardingCivilRights

Since 1964, Head Start has supported 40+ million children & families from low-income households. Research shows it works, supporting child development & learning, parent education, employment, opportunity, & more. Learn more: https://cep.asu.edu/resources/AdvancingEducationalOpportunity

📊 Research shows that fear of deportation can lead to high stress in kids. Studies cited in our report find increased anxiety, depression, & trauma-related behaviors among kids in immigrant families. 🔗 Read the full findings: https://cep.asu.edu/resources/SupportingImmigrantChildrenandFamilies

In 2023, more than 1/4 of U.S. children lived in immigrant families, most born here in the U.S. When families face detention or deportation, children’s health, safety, & learning are deeply affected. Learn more: https://cep.asu.edu/resources/ImpactsofFamilySeparationandDeportation

Last week, we held our annual CEP retreat where our team came together to strategically plan for 2026. We spent time together, strengthened bonds, and discussed how we’ll continue this crucial work moving forward for young learners nationwide. #ChildrensEquityProject

Family detention is not required by any law. It is a choice. Detaining children in jail-like facilities for any amount of time poses a severe threat to children’s physical health, mental health, development, & wellbeing in the short/long term. Learn more: cep.asu.edu/the-scars-of...

Many other reports document inadequate medical care, confiscated medications, & untreated chronic conditions in family detention facilities. And tragically, since 2018, at least 12 children have died in US immigration custody. Learn more in our report: cep.asu.edu/the-scars-of...

About 84% of people who use TANF have children. Supporting things like food, diapers, housing, child care, & transportation. Freezing funds to 1.4m families causes economic instability, putting kids in danger. Learn more: assets.aecf.org/m/resourcedo... firstfocus.org/wp-content/u...

This season, we celebrate the power of research, policy, & practice working together to close opportunity gaps & create just, inclusive systems where all kids can thrive. We look forward to continuing this important work in the year ahead. 📚 Subscribe: cep.asu.edu

Guaranteeing students’ #civilrights depends on data & enforcement. Using that data to ensure enforcement of civil rights requires enough staff to review each case. Because kids deserve education free from discrimination. 📚 Learn more about the federal role here: cep.asu.edu/resources/Ad...

Want to keep up with the latest in early childhood research, data, and policy? ✨ Join the Children’s Equity Project email list! 🔔 Sign up: cep.asu.edu

Fixing inequities in #specialeducation requires knowing where they exist. That’s why data is essential—it’s also required by law. Helping identify racial disparities in identification, placement, & discipline so states & districts can act. Learn more: cep.asu.edu/resources/ID...

The Children’s Equity Project shares research, policy analysis, and data tools to build a more just future for all of our children. 👶🏽📚 📩 Get updates straight to your inbox—subscribe today: https://cep.asu.edu/