Today, technology plays a crucial role in the daily lives of young children, even in their pre-kindergarten education. In an explanatory sequential mixed methods study, I addressed the following guiding question: "What are urban pre-kindergarten directors' self-reported behaviors associated with the International Society for Technology in…

The Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 1989. The UNCRC sets out specific rights of children. Countries that are signatories to the UNCRC commit themselves to ensuring that the best interests of the child must be a primary consideration in all actions concerning children (Article 3);…

In 2013, California enacted an ambitious school funding reform--the Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF). The LCFF fundamentally overhauled the state's prior K-12 education finance system, which studies found to be inequitable, irrational, and highly centralized. More than a decade after its enactment, a growing body of research indicates the LCFF…

Successful transition to kindergarten for children with disabilities is a complex process that can have long term effects on school success. Although attempts are made for a seamless transition, far too often the process lacks the communication, training, and high intensity transition supports needed for all the involved stakeholders. This study…

In this paper, we present research into how leaders in early childhood education and care (ECEC) in England conceptualise and respond to sudden and challenging circumstances at organisational and personal levels. A distinction is made in this paper between "critical incidents," such as a fire in the kitchen, and "crises"…

A well-developed transition process between the early childhood setting and primary school is important when considering transition to school. This paper reports on an inquiry that focused on the enablers and barriers to a successful transition to school. The inquiry which used case studies at two schools involved interviews with new entrant,…

The integration of metaverse technologies in the Indian education system presents transformative opportunities for enhancing the learning experience through personalized and immersive instruction. This study explores the potential of the metaverse to foster student engagement and improve educational outcomes, aligning with the broader goal of…

This qualitative study explores the transition to kindergarten special education of four Somali autistic children in Minneapolis, Minnesota. This dissertation answers a single, two-part research question: What aspects of the transition to kindergarten process do stakeholders find facilitate the transition process? What parts of the transition do…

Collaboration among stakeholders in the early childhood education (ECE) field is often upheld as a goal--and with good reason: It promotes effective, sustainable policymaking, creates consistency, reduces redundancy, and fills gaps across local, state, and national systems, policies, and infrastructure. Yet the obstacles to collaboration are…

The purpose of this qualitative research was to explore stakeholder engagement with character development in K-5 nationally recognized schools of character. Researchers used a semi-structured protocol to interview principals of schools that received National Schools of Character status. Participants were selected from the 2018 list of National…

The Illinois State Board of Education crafted their Strategic Plan as a roadmap to equity, defining the steps their agency will take to improve and increase opportunities and supports for Illinois students, especially those in the greatest need. They adopted the plan in November 2020, nine months into a global pandemic that continues to shape the…

In support of the Every Child Ready Chicago initiative, Start Early has begun to explore the creation of a Chicago early childhood research consortium that would bring together researchers, policymakers, practitioners, families, and community representatives across sectors in a robust, long-term research-practice partnership focused on helping…

This case study analyses the events and debates between 2012 and 2016 leading up to the adoption of a Legal Framework for early childhood development in Brazil, focussing on advocacy efforts of the National Network of Early Childhood (RNPI), while recognising the active roles played by the Brazilian government's legislative and executive powers,…

Scientific and policy advances are putting early childhood development (ECD) at the center of efforts to improve human development. This study was undertaken to understand what knowledge and attitudinal barriers exist that 25 hinder the full-scale roll-out of services for the youngest children and their families. We used anthropological methods…

This research paper explores teachers' contribution to quality education in the midst of political, economic and social struggles in post-conflict Liberia. The paper adopts the qualitative research method and interviews were conducted with teachers and educational stakeholders to examine the needed contributions of teachers to quality education in…