Using Data to Strengthen School Readiness

The National Neighborhood Indicators Partnership is a network of civic groups and university institutes in 34 cities. Coordinated by the Urban Institute, these partners were challenged to operate neighborhood-level data systems to inform policymaking and community development endeavors. Eight cities in the network participated in a project using data systems to explore school readiness programs and shed light on the factors that affect early childhood development.

The brief summarizes the results of the project and finds risks to children’s readiness for school were concentrated strongly in low-income neighborhoods. Additionally, the best results were likely in sites where a local collaboration of stakeholders had been formed to address early childhood development needs. The report offers analysis for each of the participating partners and is framed as a series of recommendations for state action.

The project operated from October 2007 to March 2009. Results from the project were prepared for the Annie E. Casey Foundation and published by the Urban Institute in August 2010.
 

Read the report.