ECA - Advancing Learning, Enriching Lives - Early Childhood Associates, Inc.

Re-imagining professional learning

Bringing together the best thinking of P-12 education to drive education reform

Engaging adults in high quality instructional practices

Setting the stage for evidence-informed data driven decision making

Leading the strategic planning process

Developing leadership capacity

Building capacity for engaging in evidence informed data driven decision making

Coaching to support program leaders, strengthen teacher practice, and improve outcomes for children

Advancement of Learning for the Enrichment of Lives

Based just outside of Boston, in the hub of research and innovation, Early Childhood Associates, Inc. (ECA) is a nationally recognized social research and consulting firm dedicated to promoting the healthy growth and development of children, and their families as well as the practitioners who support them.

ECA is at the forefront of innovation in research and evaluation, B-3rd grade strategic planning and systems building, workforce development, quality assurance, universal Pre-K initiatives, and supporting accessible and evidence-informed inclusion practices in settings serving young children and their families.

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Identifying And Using Data To Promote Evidence Informed Practice

Why Program Performance Evaluations?

Quality Improvement-Early Childhood Special Ed Program Evaluation

Using the latest research and guidance from the Departments of ED and HHS, and OSEP Child Outcomes; ECA has helped school districts with continued quality improvement efforts for preschool classrooms with emphasis on supporting children with disabilities through enhanced access…

Research & Evaluation

Program evaluation is not a cut-and-dried activity. Evaluation depends primarily on its purposes and audience; the nature of the program being evaluated; and the political and organizational context within which the evaluation is conducted. Ultimately, the goal is to use the evaluation results to guide conversations and foster deeper thinking around evidence-based decision making and program improvement.

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Systems Building

It takes more than education to help kids be ready for school—they also need good health care; appropriate social and emotional development opportunities; strong support from their families and communities; and a well-qualified early childhood workforce. A well-developed, dynamic strategic plan guides an effective early learning system; uses evidence of change to adjust the plan in order to meet the plan’s short- to long-term benchmarks; and to inform policy and practices.

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Quality Assurance

Creating high-quality learning environments requires skilled and committed leaders to help shape teaching. Effective teachers create stimulating early learning environments; engage in reflective practice; regular child assessment; and adopt curricula that make a difference in children’s development. Leadership is second only to teaching as an influence on learning. The high quality leadership is linked to improved student outcomes and educational equity.

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Recent Reports

Reshaping Program Evaluations in Settings Serving Children with Disabilities

The COVID 19 Pandemic has significantly impacted the delivery of programs and services for all children, especially children with disabilities. Moreover, it has impacted our ability to thoroughly monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of programs in meeting children’s...

Promising Practice- Components of Coaching at Community Teamwork, Inc.

Community Teamwork, Inc. in Greater Lowell helps nearly 50,000 individuals from 63 cities and towns in northeastern Massachusetts gain greater economic independence. One arm of the organization focuses on children and families through its early learning programs. As...

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Recent Events

Leadership Matters

What are the characteristics of great leadership in early education and care? At the Early Childhood Strategic Leadership Institute on June 14th sponsored by ECA and Wellesley College, we explored that question. Amy O’Leary, NAEYC President led the closing panel where...

BIRTH-THIRD GRADE ALIGNMENT IN LOWELL – NAEYC PRESENTATION

This post was originally written by David Jacobson for his blog The Birth Through Third Grade Learning Hub. Thanks, David! Linda Warren and I did a joint presentation on Birth Through Third Grade Alignment in Massachusetts at the NAEYC Professional Development...

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