Early Childhood Integrated Data Systems as a Foundation for Strategic Financing
Early Childhood Integrated Data Systems as a Foundation for Strategic Financing
May 2026
Early childhood systems cannot pursue strategic financing, cost modeling, or rate reform without integrated, decision-ready data. This brief, the first in a series on Early Childhood Integrated Data Systems (ECIDS) co-authored by the Center for Early Learning Funding Equity (CELFE) and the Chicago Early Childhood Integrated Data System (CECIDS), explores how ECIDS serves as foundational public infrastructure for early childhood systems. By connecting funding, service delivery, and regulatory data across programs and agencies, ECIDS enables more transparent, repeatable, and data-informed policymaking to support strategic financing, resource allocation, and long-term system planning.
Extending Our Collective Understanding of Early Childhood Information Needs: Brief Series in Partnership with NORC at the University of Chicago
February 2026
In 2025, the Chicago Early Childhood Integrated Data System (CECIDS) partnered with NORC at the University of Chicago to revisit questions about Chicago’s priority early childhood population and enrollment. We found that many technical “use cases” were standing in for deeper policy and program information needs, particularly around access, enrollment, workforce gaps, and kindergarten readiness. The resulting briefs clarify actionable short-term data gaps, identify longer-term research opportunities, and offer a replicable process for keeping mature integrated data systems aligned with real decision-making.
From Data to Impact: A Multi-Partner Framework to Advance Early Childhood in Illinois
From Data to Impact: A Multi-Partner Framework to Advance Early Childhood in Illinois
February 2026
From Data to Impact outlines a four-tier framework for advancing analysis of participation, access, and equity across publicly funded early childhood programs in Chicago and Illinois. Developed through collaboration among research, data, and policy partners, the framework is intended to support alignment across philanthropy and public agencies.