The National Center for Research on Early Childhood Education (ncrece) focuses on conducting research, disseminating research findings, and carrying out leadership activities aimed at improving the quality of early childhood education across the United States. The Center is based at the University of Virginia and is directed by Robert Pianta. Major activities include:

• Research – A randomized, controlled evaluation of the effects of two forms of professional development support for teachers. These supports to teachers will improve the implementation of curricula and interactions with children, as well as, promote gains in children’s social and academic development. These approaches will focus in particular on promoting language and literacy skills, domains of child development that operate as gatekeepers to later achievement.
• Dissemination – Producing and distributing peer-reviewed research, and an assortment of consumer-friendly reports and publications
• Leadership – Providing leadership in the field of early childhood education through:
  • Annual national leadership conferences
  • Book series focused on key topics in the field; and
  • Research mentoring support for minority scholars

News

Now available:

• NCRECE In Focus:

1. Promoting Children’s School Readiness: Rethinking the Levers for Change, based on a chapter by Andrew Mashburn and Robert Pianta.
2. Learning How Much Quality is Necessary to Get to Good Results for Children, based on an article by Peg Burchinal,  Nathan Vandergrift., Robert Pianta,  & Andrew Mashburn,
3. Maximizing Classroom Time to Promote Learning, based on an article by Diane Early, et al.
4. Home-School Differences: What it Means for Kindergarten Readiness, based on an article by Oscar Barbarin, et al.
5. Readiness for School Involves an Array of Skills: Let’s Not Forget Fine Motor Development, based on articles by Kevin Grimm, David Grissmer, et al.
6. Expanding School Readiness Gains in Prekindergarten, based on an article by Nina Chien, Carollee Howes, Robert Pianta, et al.
7. The Feasibility of a Common Course in Early Childhood Teacher Preparation Programs, based on an article by Catherine Scott-Little, et al.

• The second book in the NCRECE series: Foundations of Teaching Excellence: Connecting Early Childhood Quality Rating, Professional Development, and Competency Systems in States, Carollee Howes and Robert Pianta, Editors. See the Brookes Publishing website for details and use this order form to save 10%.