Data collection is a cornerstone of the Educare Learning Network.  The Educare National Evaluation uses the data collected at each Educare School to investigate the impact of high-quality early childhood education on child, family, and community outcomes.  Collecting data for Educare assessments occurs throughout the school year and can be a large undertaking.   It is imperative for LEPs to have an in-depth understanding of the data collection process.

Currently, there are 8 measures in use to collect data.  LEPs should be familiar with each type of measure (e.g., direct child assessment, teacher rating, classroom observation) and the Data Collection Timeline.   LEPs should develop a plan of action for collecting data and consider each of the following aspects of data collection.

1. Identifying data collectors
2. Training
3. IRB approval and consent
4. Obtaining rosters with children’s names, birthdates, IDs; teaching staff and family engagement staff connected to classrooms/children.
5. Requesting materials from FPG such as forms for child assessments and classroom observations

You will need to be able to connect children in the same family (for the family interview and spring surveys).  More details about these procedures can be found in subsequent sections of this chapter or subsequent chapters. 

Local Decisions

Local programs and their evaluation partners handle some decisions in their own way.  Most local IRBs require the LEP to obtain consent for child assessments.  Work with your program to determine who is involved in writing/approving the form and understanding the timeline.  Does a local school district need to approve the consent form, and do they have a schedule of meetings when those decisions are made? 

Some programs/LEPs offer incentives to families or staff for completing surveys; each site decides whether to offer incentives and makes a plan for obtaining and distributing them. 

LEPs coordinate closely with the program staff on scheduling data collection – how will you catch each child at their birthdays, what quiet space will be used for assessments with child-sized furniture, etc.