Last month, we convened a select group of stakeholders for the Early Learning Network Forum, “Equitable and Effective Early Learning Opportunities: Research, Practice and Policy Considerations.”

More than 100 participants joined network members for the daylong virtual event, including practitioners, policymakers, researchers, state and federal partners, and others invested in early childhood education from across the country.

The forum provided an opportunity for network members to share their collective findings and for participants to engage in meaningful dialogue to help determine how the network’s contributions to the field can be translated and applied to improve practice and policy.

We invite you to visit the forum website to explore these resources.

The next phase of work includes synthesizing key takeaways and recommendations generated from the forum's panel discussions and small breakout groups.

Our goal is to share actionable next steps that align with the four impact areas and OLOS that will be useful for practitioners and policymakers, and ultimately, help move the field forward. Stay tuned for more details as they become finalized!

The Early Learning Network, funded by the Institute of Education Sciences, leverages its expertise, resources and geographic diversity to help close 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.