High-quality early learning environments are essential for children's success. Capturing data on children's individual learning experiences, rather than relying solely on global classroom quality measures, may be important for increasing equity and improving outcomes for all children.

A recent Early Learning Network study, led by researchers at the University of Michigan, MDRC and the Harvard Graduate School of Education in partnership with Boston Public Schools, found traditional classroom quality measures may overlook individual children’s diverse learning experiences, even within the same classroom.

This month, we're highlighting this important work that underscores the need for new early childhood education measurement tools.

The Early Learning Network, funded by the Institute of Education Sciences, leverages its expertise, resources and geographic diversity to help narrow opportunity gaps and maintain early learning success as children transition from preschool to third grade. Together, network researchers from universities and organizations across the U.S. are examining current policies and practices, identifying malleable factors associated with early learning and achievement, and developing tools to assess early learning instruction, interactions and environments. Learn more at earlylearningnetwork.unl.edu.