INTRODUCTION

INTRODUCTION The University of Delaware’s Center for Research in Education and Social Policy (CRESP) conducts rigorous research, program evaluation, and policy analysis to inform decisions at the local, state, and federal levels, thereby improving outcomes for children, youth, adults, and families. CRESP is now in its third year of serving as a partner with 4POINT0 Schools (4.0), the largest and earliest investor in the education field today. Since May of 2020, CRESP has worked with 4.0 to provide feedback on a variety of outcomes in two annual reports and five thematic reports (see Figure 1), as well as an alumni survey metric review presentation and revised tool.

Figure 1: The Five Thematic Reports2

Our Research Practice Partnership (RPP) has emphasized the critical nature of internal systems and processes, as well as alignment with measures, goals and objectives. CRESP and 4.0 have worked in close partnership throughout the conceptualization, design, implementation, and analysis phases of a variety of evaluation efforts undertaken to date. Together, the two partners have come to understand the challenges, benefits, and realities of evaluation. As was true from the start, the evaluation procedures employed by the team are aligned with the standards established

● 4.0 Schools: Early Childhood Education Portfolio, Case Studies, and Interview

Results ● Strategic Insights from 4.0 Alumni: The Importance of Pivoting ● An Equitable Future in Education: Learning from 4.0 Alumni Experiences ● 4.0 New Normal Wave: Evaluation Findings ● Ten Current Trends in Early Childhood Education: Literature Review and

Resources for Practitioners

2 Published in 2021 and accessible at https://www.cresp.udel.edu. 12