Early care and education integrated data systems: A Key Topic Resource List

Research Connections conducted a comprehensive search of its collection for resources focused on integrated data systems in early childhood education. Key words used in the search were "integrated data," "coordinated data," "linked data," and "data systems." This Key Topic Resource List includes an overview and listing of selected resources from the literature. Resources of various types--including reports and papers, fact sheets and briefs, summaries, and reviews--are included. Selection criteria focused relatively recent resources (from the years 2000-2014) that addressed issues or provided examples of efforts to create capacity to link administrative data related to young children and the services they receive at the individual (child, family, program or setting) level on an ongoing basis. The development of integrated data systems is still in its infancy, and the research on integrated early childhood data systems is limited and largely descriptive of state efforts to create these data systems. Based on the search results, resources are grouped into the following categories: Goals and rationale for the development of integrated early childhood data systems; Challenges, guidance, and tools for creating integrated early childhood data systems; State and local examples of integrated data systems; Inventories of state and local data