May 12, 2025

Apply now for the NAECR Policy Fellows Program

NAECR is currently accepting applications for the 2025-26 NAECR Policy Fellows Program! The program is a series of interactive and collaborative conversations between First Five Nebraska and NAECR early childhood researchers.

Objectives include:

• To educate NU early childhood researchers on policy processes, impacts and relationships to research;
• To provide the Nebraska policy community with insight into the University of Nebraska’s latest early childhood research; and
• To create meaningful, bi-directional connections and collaborations between the research and policy communities to develop a policy-relevant research agenda and enrich early childhood experiences.

We will select four NAECR researchers to participate in the program, which runs from September 2025 to May 2026.

Applications are due by Friday, May 30. Selected applicants will be notified by June 13.

All participants will be expected to:

• Attend a total of four conversations with First Five Nebraska and other policy fellows;
• Participate in a culminating activity (e.g., presentation, panel);
• Engage in and contribute to an active, ongoing and supportive dialogue about the connections between policy and research;
• Attend the 2026 CYFS Early Childhood Research Summit in April 2026; and 
• Provide feedback on the Policy Fellows program.

Learn more about NAECR Policy Fellows.

Here are recent publications from NAECR researchers:

Beyond Trial Counts: Considerations for Measuring Play and Engagement During Early Intervention for Autistic Children

Tracy Raulston, Curriculum and Instruction, Texas State University

Ciara Ousley*, Special Education and Communication Disorders, University of Nebraska–Lincoln

Emily Hinton, Action Behavior Centers, Texas

Andrea Rairez, Action Behavior Centers, Texas

 * Denotes NAECR Researcher

** Denotes NAECR Student Researcher

Spencer Foundation Large Research Grants on Education

The goal of Spencer Foundation’s research grants is to support rigorous, intellectually ambitious and technically sound research that is relevant to the most pressing questions and compelling opportunities in education.

The Large Research Grants on Education Program supports education research projects that will contribute to the improvement of education, broadly conceived.

Award budget: $125,000 – $500,000

Letter of Intent due date: This Wednesday, May 14, 2025

Proposal due date: June 17, 2025

Learn more.

Caplan Foundation for Early Childhood

The Caplan Foundation for Early Childhood supports research and development projects to improve the support, acculturation, social integration and child care of young children in the U.S.

This foundation provides funding in parenting education, to help parents create nurturing environments for their children, early childhood welfare, to provide a safe and nurturing environment, and early childhood education and play, to improve the quality of early childhood teaching and learning.

Letter of inquiry due date: May 31, 2025

Learn more.

New! 2026 Nebraska Young Child Institute Conferfence

Call for Proposals

July 16-17, 2026

Kearney, Nebraska

The Nebraska Young Child Institute conference is a multidisciplinary event bringing together professionals to assess and respond to the most pressing needs of young children and families.

NYCI is currently accepting conference proposals featuring content relevant to professionals working with young children and their families and focused on addressing a range of topical areas.

Proposal due date: Sept. 12, 2025

Learn more.

International Society for Developmental Psychobiology

Annual Meeting

Call for Proposals

Nov. 12-14, 2025

San Diego, California

The ISDP is currently accepting proposals for its 58th annual meeting, which will bring together a multidisciplinary group of international researchers from all areas of developmental psychobiology ranging from clinical psychiatrists to ethologists to molecular biologists with a common interest in promoting translational research by emphasizing the integration of basic and clinical research approaches.

Proposal due date: June 2, 2025

Learn more.

National Association of School Psychologists Annual Convention

Call for Proposals

Feb. 24-27, 2026

Chicago, Illinois

This convention is seeking presentations that support seasoned practitioners in delivering high-quality, evidence-based school practices.

Presentations may be submitted in the following formats; mini-skills, papers, poster, practitioner conversation sessions, symposia and workshops.

Proposal due date: June 18, 2025

Learn more.

No events are scheduled at this time.

Nebraska Center for Research on Children, Youth, Families & Schools

College of Education and Human Sciences

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