Early Childhood Policy Briefs

Policy briefs provide succinct information that typically includes compilations of empirical research presented in a narrative format. Designed for multiple audiences, policy briefs often contain the rationale and recommendations for a specific policy stance on an issue of salience related to young children and families. Moreover, if you are interested in publications that will provide persuasive evidence for advocacy purposes or policy making decisions, we invite you to explore these resources.

• Adams, G., Schilder, D., Wagner, L., Lou, C., & Willenborg, P. (Mar 2022). Executive Summary: What Child Care Arrangements Do Parents Want during Nontraditional Hours? Urban Institute.
• BUILD Initiative. Comprehensive Fiscal Strategy Infographic. BUILD Initiative: Washington, DC.
• Catalina, R. G. & Coley, R. L. (June 2023). Early childhood education does not increase behavior problems: Evidence from five countries. Boston College Institute of Early Childhood Policy.
• Child Care Services Association (Jun 2021). Policy brief: Retaining educated early childhood educators.
• Coley, R. & Lanteri, L. (Aug 2022). Diaper Need: Recommended Strategies for Addressing this Pervasive Public Health Concern. Boston College.
• Dutta-Gupta, I. (Aug 2023). The Enduring Effects of Childhood Poverty. Center for Law and Social Policy.
• First Five Years fund (Jan 16 2023). ABCs of Federal Early Learning and Child Care Funding Streams.
• First Five Years Fund (Jan 18 2023). Early Learning and Child Care: Unaffordable, Unattainable, Unsustainable.
• Food Research and Action Center (Aug 2022). Child nutrition reauthorization primer.
• Garcia, A. & Sklar, C. (Sep 2022). Preparing Pre-K Teachers: Policy Considerations and Strategies.
• Johnson-Green, M. (Oct 2020). Gender and racial justice in SNAP: Issue brief. National Women’s Law Center.
• Kong, F. (June 2022). Three effective parenting program models that support family well-being: A guide for practitioners. Boston College Institute of Early Childhood Policy.
• Lloyd, C. M., Carlson, J., & Ulmen, K. (Apr 2021). Lessons learned from virtual early care and education coaching during COVID-19. Child Trends.
• National Women’s Law Center. (Apr 2021). The child and dependent care tax credit helps working families with the high cost of child care: Fact Sheet.
• Pathak, A. & Gibbs, H. (2022). Addressing the nation’s infant formula crisis. DC: Center for American Progress.
• Prenatal-to-3 Policy Impact Center. (Jan 2021). Why Do We Focus on the Prenatal-to-3 Age Period?: Understanding the Importance of the Earliest Years.
• Rasmussen, J. (2022, July). When It Comes to Young Children, It’s Time for Philanthropy to Stop Thinking Small. The Center for Effective Philanthropy.
• Roben, C. K. P., & Costello, A. H. (Jul 2022). Increasing Support for Home Visiting Innovation is Critical for Young Children and Their Families. Society for Research in Child Development Child Evidence, 13.
• Smith, L. & Osborn, C. (Aug 2022). Why parents with multiple young kids opt out of formal child care. Bipartisan Policy Center.
• TWM Center for Early Learning + Public Health. (2021, May). How a better understanding of scaling can enhance early childhood policy and improve lives.
• Zero to Three (Aug 2021). State Strategies to Strengthen Infant-Toddler Care as Public Pre-k Expands.