EDC supports the development of engaging and safe educational programs for young children.
From birth to age eight, children take the first steps in a lifelong learning journey. EDC speeds them on their way by designing, studying, supporting, and scaling up programs that enhance school readiness and success. We have a special focus on meeting the needs of children from disadvantaged communities and dual language learners, engaging and supporting families, and building the capacity of educators and communities to sustain improvements.
In the United States, we work to create strong, coherent preK-Grade 3 systems and advance knowledge of how to improve early science, mathematics, and literacy learning. Around the world, we implement innovative early childhood programs that build literacy and numeracy skills, excite interest in learning, and help educators, volunteers, and parents enrich early learning.
Read "A Fair Start for Every Child" to learn more about EDC's work to support early childhood learning.
Learn about EDC’s work with Family STEM Communities.
Learn about EDC’s work to strengthen early childhood interventions with Continuous Quality Improvement.
Learn about the work of EDC’s Center for Children and Technology.
Related Content
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Tapping, Swiping, and Learning Science
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Helping All Children Learn and Thrive
EDC’s David Jacobson discusses his ideas for changing—and improving—early childhood services.
Tools to Support Preschool Learning
New resources support educators on integrating technology and working with emergent bilingual learners.
The Other Side of the Screen
As a researcher, Tiffany Maxon gets to help develop the next generation of children’s television shows.
Projects
Resources
Here are a few of our resources on early childhood development and learning. To see more, visit our Resources section.
This toolkit provides program designers with information on how to develop and implement effective early childhood interactive audio instruction (IAI) programs in a range of settings.
This report, intended for early childhood educators, offers five evidence-based recommendations for integrating technology tools, such as computers and tablets, into a variety of early learning settings.
This report summarizes the results of the Time to Learn project in Zambia, which was funded by the U.S.
This report presents findings from the Prekindergarten Transmedia Mathematics Study.
This brief describes how EDC works with multi-sector partners to pioneer new ways to harness the power of digital tools to support families and enhance early teaching, learning, and health promotion.
This paper provides a resource for prospective DRK–12 grantees by identifying some of the theories that current and recent DRK–12 grantees are using in their research on broadening participation.
Science skills and habits of mind are the missing elements of the foundational skills package, and their addition to the mix can accelerate education recovery and reform. In the context of climate change, these skills are even more critical. This report makes the case for investment in primary science as a foundational skill set in low-resource contexts.
This checklist provides early childhood educators with practical tips for supporting children’s bilingual learning within a rich classroom environment.
This guide provides an overview of IRI as a methodology, and discusses its feasibility and applicability in a range of contexts.
This resource focuses on how distance education technology benefits teachers and teaching.