A Q and A With Albert Wat of Pre-K Now
- Organizations: National Conference of State Legislatures
- Date: 01/2010
- Description: State early childhood advisory councils are required by the federal Head Start Act of 2007 to develop a state plan for an early childhood data system. Some state systems are under development while other states are just beginning. Legislators can help play a role in shaping data systems in their states.
The Early Childhood Data Collaborative (ECDC) is a new consortium of national organizations convened to build state policymaker understanding and support of aligned early childhood data systems to improve child outcomes and system performance. ECDC partners are: Council of Chief State School Officers, Data Quality Campaign, National Center for Children in Poverty, National Conference of State Legislatures, National Governors Association Center for Best Practices, Center for the Study of Child Care Employment, and a campaign of the Pew Center on the States, Pre-K Now. ECDC’s work is funded by the Birth to Five Policy Alliance and The Pew Charitable Trusts.
State Legislatures asked Albert Wat with Pre-K Now to describe what an early childhood data system is, and share some state strategies and lessons learned for legislators to consider.