Research has demonstrated that federal Head Start centers, which provide preschool care to children from low-income families, have little or no long-term academic value for children. This "Backgrounder" adds to the evidence that Head Start has failed to achieve its objectives and should be sunset, not expanded, by demonstrating a…

Research Findings: This study investigated how the Strengthening Families through Early Care and Education initiative in Illinois (SFI) influenced change in 4 child care programs. Findings indicate that SFI influenced quality improvements through 4 primary pathways: (a) Learning Networks, (b) the quality of training, (c) the engagement of program…

As the state of Illinois moves toward an integrated system of universally accessible early care and education, policymakers grapple with issues regarding who, where, how, and at what cost quality services should be provided. In order to inform this policy debate, this report describes the for-profit sector of Illinois' formal early care and…