Preschool Development Grant The PDG Activities Activity 6 - Monitoring, Evaluating, and Using Data

Activity 6: Monitoring, Evaluating, and Using Data

The PDG-R team has continued the development of a comprehensive, integrated early childhood data system to advance equitable policies and practices for children from birth to age five, their families, and the early learning and care providers who support them.

  • PDG—Renewal (PDG-R) 2020–23

Activity 6: Monitoring, Evaluation, & Data Use (PDG-R)

Category: Infrastructure

Status: Complete

The PDG-R team has continued to develop a comprehensive, integrated early childhood data system to advance equitable policies and practices for children birth to age five, their families, and the early learning and care providers who support them.

Activities included ongoing planning and development of several data systems enhancement projects that will serve as critical levers to achieving the state’s broader integrated data systems goals.

Projects included the following:

  • Streamlining the eligibility process for services through a Statewide Verification Hub
  • Tracking child enrollment and payments through an updated and integrated Child Development Management Information System
  • Connecting families with early learning and care that meets their needs with the support of a parent portal
  • Promoting equitable data-driven policies, practices, and resource allocations through the development of an Early Childhood Integrated Data System and connections to Cradle to Career, California’s longitudinal data system

Start Date: 7/1/2020
End Date: PDG-R work on this activity ended 12/31/2023; this work continues in PDG-P activity 5

Partners:

  • California Department of Social Services (CDSS)
  • WestEd

Activity 6a: Data Integration and Management: Early Childhood Integrated Data System (ECIDS) Development (PDG-R)

Category: Infrastructure

Status: Complete

The PDG-R team continued work on the following tasks for Early Childhood Integrated Data System (ECIDS) development (this work will be continued in PDG-P):

  • Establishing memorandums of understanding between state agencies to facilitate data sharing to support research, analysis, decision-making, and data protection
  • Conducting Phonological Awareness Literacy Screening (PALS) for ECIDS, beginning with an analysis and plan with options for creating a statewide data system that allows for horizontal and longitudinal data alignment for analysis and reporting
  • Initiating PALS for the quality rating and improvement system (QRIS), Workforce Registry, and Consumer Education/Parent Portal

Start Date: 7/1/2020
End Date: PDG-R work on this activity ended 12/31/2023; this work continues in PDG-P activity 5

Last Updates:

The California Department of Social Services is conducting Project Approval Lifecycles for ECIDS. This process begins with an analysis and plan with options for creating a statewide data system that allows for horizontal and longitudinal data alignment for analysis and reporting.

Partners:

  • California Department of Social Services (CDSS)
  • WestEd

Activity 6b: Program Performance Evaluation (PDG-R)

Category: Infrastructure

Status: Completed

The PDG-R team will do the following to improve California’s program performance evaluation:

  • Identify baseline data needed to inform PDG-R activities and develop data collection and management systems for accessible use and reporting of data
  • Monitor progress of Professional Learning System platform, related courses, coaches, and innovative higher education pathways to expand workforce (participation, survey, persistence data, focus groups, degree/credential outcomes)
  • Monitor quality system redesign process and impact (surveys of field, level of participation by types of providers, and quality metrics)
  • Assess progress to address need and increase capacity in high-need areas (tribal communities; friend, family, and neighbor providers; families experiencing homelessness; family child care; and mental health) and coordinate data collection and analysis with state and local needs assessment and Early Childhood Integrated Data System development

Start Date: 7/1/2020
End Date: 12/31/2023

Partners:

  • California Department of Social Services (CDSS)
  • WestEd