The Chicago Early Childhood Research Agenda

The Chicago Early Childhood Research Agenda is the foundation for EC*REACH’s work.

We hope that it will also become a key resource for anyone who is working to understand, improve, and reduce inequities in Chicago's early childhood ecosystem. This research agenda was co-created by EC*REACH in partnership with early childhood researchers, families, city and community leaders, and providers from across the city of Chicago. This diverse team came together in an iterative and collaborative design process over a period of four months to identify our city’s most pressing early childhood questions and provide guidance on how to go about answering them.

Together, we identified the need for research that helps Chicago’s early childhood community better understand, improve, and reduce inequities in: 

·       Children’s learning and development

·       Children’s and families’ health and wellness

·       The early childhood workforce’s expertise, stability, and wellbeing   

·       The early childhood ecosystem’s ability to support these goals 

‍The full research agenda highlights the questions and guiding principles that matter most to Chicago’s early childhood community. It is a “living” document that will continue to evolve in response to Chicago’s changing landscape. The scope of the agenda spans Chicago’s entire early childhood ecosystem—including all sectors, agencies, organizations, and institutions that help to support pregnant people, young children, their families, and the early childhood workforce. It is intended to serve as a guiding document for research, policy, and practice partners across Chicago.

‍EC*REACH will use this research agenda to guide our own work and the ways that we support our partners and community to produce and use early childhood research.

Specifically, we will:

Convene an AllianceCouncil comprised of Chicago city and community leaders, researchers, families, and providers to guide us as we advance this agenda.

Harness the available data needed for research aligned to this agenda.

Connect and support research partners, policy and practice partners, direct service providers, community leaders, and families who are interested in working together on research aligned to this agenda.

Conduct relevant and rigorous research aligned to this agenda.

Collect and share research findings in timely and accessible ways.

Facilitate conversations about how to apply new insights to create better and more equitable experiences and outcomes forChicago’s children and families.​

We hope that YOU will use this research agenda too!

Researchers: Conduct meaningful and useful research. Use this research agenda as you (and your students) start or expand a Chicago-focused early childhood research project.

Early childhood leaders: Answer your questions and spark new ideas. Use this research agenda as you partner with researchers or engage in your own inquiry.

Parents, caregivers, educators, and providers: Make your voice heard. Use this research agenda as you consider participating in research or partnering with researchers.

All of us: Work together. Use this research agenda to focus our attention and coordinate our efforts as we partner to improve early childhood experiences for children and families across Chicago.

We look forward to advancing this agenda together with you by using the tools of research and community expertise to build a stronger and more equitable early childhood system in Chicago!

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Please note: A supporting glossary is coming soon.

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