Research to Practice Plenary

This session focused on how state policy can inform research and how research can inform state policy. The session presented federal resources that can support state staff and researchers to work together effectively. These resources included a Research and Evaluation Capacity Self-Assessment tool, an annotated bibliography of resources to build research capacities, a guide on procuring research and evaluation services, information on the Research Connections website about working with administrative data, and a collection of child care surveys and resources related to COVID.
State leaders and researchers from three states presented how they worked together on ECE policy research. The team from Georgia discussed how they use an internal research department to help analyze administrative data in real time, manage partnerships with external researchers, and support the understanding of research needs and findings. The team from Wisconsin shared how a longstanding partnership with their university research partner and a master data-sharing agreement support policy development and academic research as well as using data-informed decision-making to address important policy questions. The team from Virginia shared an example of how a close partnership with state leaders enabled them to conduct a workforce study that informed their use of retention incentives and helped them secure additional funding for their workforce retention work.
The lead of the Early Learning Network described how the Institute of Education Sciences, U.S. Department of Education, funded five network study teams that have produced their findings and other resources (e.g., practice and policy guides) that are available on the Early Learning Network website.
We accept comments in the spirit of our comment policy: www.hhs.gov/we...