Research shows that quality early childhood care and education experiences provide a strong foundation for success in school. States need to securely link limited, but critical, early childhood and K–12 data to help them know whether policies and programs help children successfully transition from early childhood to the classroom and get them ready for school.
In Roadmap for Early Childhood and K–12 Data Linkages, DQC and the Early Childhood Data Collaborative (ECDC) recommend focusing on seven key areas to inform policy discussions and decisions; chart the progress of children, programs, and the state; strengthen and support the early childhood workforce; pinpoint best practices and areas of need; allocate scarce resources; and make other important education decisions every day.
