May 26, 2026

Here are recent publications from NAECR researchers:

Indigenous Children's Resilience in Early Childhood Classrooms in the U.S.: Culturally Relevant Practices and Teacher Interpretations of Standardized Assessments

Amy Encinger, Teacher Education, University of Wyoming

Amanda Prokasky*, Nebraska Center for Research on Children, Youth, Families and Schools, University of Nebraska–Lincoln

Amy LaPointe-Houghton, Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska

Peggy LaRose-Walker, Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska

Keri LaPointe, Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska

Kumiko Masquat, Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska

Brittney Stansberry, Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska

Alyssa Zediker, Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska

Trista Matthews, Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska

Cassandra Horak, Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska

Allison Jadoobirsingh, Education and Child Development, University of Nebraska Medical Center

Why Leave Neonatal Therapies Up To Chance?

Elisabeth Leeflang, University of New Mexico

Ann Anderson-Berry, Pediatrics, University of Nebraska Medical Center

Jessie Maxwell, Pediatrics and Neurosciences, University of New Mexico

 * Denotes NAECR Researcher

** Denotes NAECR Student Researcher

Would you like to see your work featured here? Contact us at naecr@unl.edu

NAECR can assist you in finding research partners for your funding applications and staff in CYFS are available to assist with your proposal development for these or other funding opportunities.

Please contact Lisa Knoche if you are interested in building a collaborative team, need assistance with proposal development or would like to discuss funding opportunities for your research.

Internal funding opportunities by campus:

UNK

UNL

UNMC

UNO

New! DOE Comprehensive Centers Program: National Comprehensive Center on Improving Literacy for Students with Disabilities

The Department of Education is accepting proposals for the National Comprehensive Center on Improving Literacy for Students with Disabilities.

The purpose is to identify or develop evidence-based literacy assessment tools and professional development activities and to identify evidence-based instruction, strategies and accommodations for students at risk of not attaining full literacy skills due to a disability.

The Center will also disseminate products and information on evidence-based literacy to families, schools, and state, local and regional educational agencies.

Award budget: Up to $1,150,000

Proposal due date: June 30, 2026

Learn more.

New! DOE Ready to Learn Programming

The Department of Education is accepting proposals for Ready to Learn Programming, which supports the development of educational television and digital media targeted at preschool and early elementary school children and their families.

Its general goal is to promote early learning and school readiness, with a particular interest in reaching low-income children. In addition to creating television and other media products, the program supports activities intended to promote national distribution of the programming, effective educational uses of the programming, community-based outreach and research on educational effectiveness.

Award budget: $31,000,000 across up to 3 recipients

Proposal due date: July 8, 2026

Learn more.

New! LEGO Foundation Fellowship

The LEGO Foundation Fellowship is a global research fellowship for early- and mid-career researchers whose work can strengthen understanding of how children thrive across diverse contexts.

The program provides flexible support over a three-year period for researchers pursuing ambitious, rigorous and practically relevant work. They are looking for fellows with strong research potential, clear ideas for the next phase of their work and a commitment to building evidence that can inform action for children.

Award budget: $300,000

Proposal due date: July 31, 2026

Learn more.

New! DHHS Promise Neighborhoods

The Department of Health and Human Services has announced its Promise Neighborhoods grant program.

This opportunity improves the academic and developmental outcomes of children and youth living in the most distressed communities of the U.S., including ensuring school readiness, high school graduation and access to a community-based continuum of high-quality services.

Proposal due date: Aug. 6, 2026

Learn more.

Caplan Foundation for Early Education

The Caplan Foundation for Early Childhood is an incubator of promising research and development projects that appear likely to improve the welfare of young children, from infancy through 7 years, in the United States.

Funding is provided in the areas of early childhood welfare, early childhood education and play and parenting education.

Letter of inquiry due date: This Sunday, May 31, 2026

Learn more.

William T. Grant Scholars Program

This program supports career development for promising early-career researchers. The program funds five-year research and mentoring plans that significantly expand researchers' expertise in new disciplines, methods and content areas.

Award budget: $425,000 over five years

Proposal due date: June 30, 2026



Learn more.

Brady Education Foundation

The Brady Education Foundation seeks to improve educational outcomes for children, including those living in low-income communities.

The Foundation supports research projects that have the potential to inform how to improve educational outcomes for children from birth through age 18. It is specifically focused on supporting research that is consistent with a strength-based perspective and has the potential to inform future educational research, practice, major philanthropic giving and/or public policy.

Letter of intent due date: July 1, 2026

Learn more.

Nebraska Young Childhood Institute 2026

June 16-17, 2026

Kearney, Nebraska

Registration is now open for NYCI 2026. This conference will bring together professionals from across early childhood, health, education, courts, and community systems to explore this year’s theme, "Building for the Future," and to spark ideas that strengthen outcomes for children and families across Nebraska.

Learn more.

National Association of School Psychologists

Annual Convention

Call for Proposals

Feb. 23-26, 2027

Charlotte, North Carolina

NASP is accepting proposals 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: July 8, 2026

Learn more.

No events are scheduled at this time.

Connecting Research and Policy

Learn more and sign up for alerts about legislation relevant to early childhood researchers.

First Five Nebraska

Voices for Children

Nebraska Legislative Calendar

NAECR Student Researchers

Students involved in early childhood research at the University of Nebraska can access a number of resources through NAECR.

Early childhood courses

NAECR student researchers

Faculty input form for research opportunities

Find a Researcher

Find and collaborate with other early childhood researchers across the NU system.

Early childhood researchers

NAECR News archives available

Access past issues of NAECR News.

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

College of Education and Human Sciences

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