Projects

This project examines the effectiveness of BEST in CLASS – Pre-K (R324A080074), a Tier 2 intervention designed to prevent and reduce challenging behaviors and promote social-emotional learning in children ages 3–5 years old. The BEST in CLASS intervention will be implemented in Head Start centers with teachers and children who have social-emotional learning challenges across three states: California, Florida, and Virginia. Findings will provide information about the effectiveness of BEST in CLASS when implemented by early childhood teachers and factors that might influence positive social, emotional, and behavioral outcomes for children and their families.

Read the IES abstract here.

• Funding Source: Institute of Education Sciences
• Funding Period: 9/1/2021 – 8/31/2026
• Funding Number: R324R210005

Team:

• Carl Sumi, Principal Investigator, SRI International
• Michelle Woodbridge, Co-Principal Investigator, SRI International
• Maureen Conroy, Principal Investigator, University of Florida (subcontract)
• Kevin Sutherland, Principal Investigator, Virginia Commonwealth (subcontract)

• The purpose of this contract is to engage the Contractor to support early childhood policy research, development, and implementation projects for the Florida Department of Education, Division of Early Learning (DEL), and to guide the improvement of systems that support children, families, and teachers within the early childhood care and education system. More specifically, the Contractor is being engaged to (1) activate key stakeholders to develop an expanded informal pathway for career advancement among early care and education teachers, (2) expand access to Practice-Based Coaching (PBC) by piloting a statewide implementation, and to (3) continue the innovative use of state administrative data to inform policy decisions including analysis focused on factors influencing family and service provider participation in public assistance programs, enhanced descriptions of the early care and education workforce, and the impact of public assistance program participation on children and families.
• Funding Source: Prime: Office of Child Care, Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; funding flows through the Florida Department of Education Division of Early Learning
• Funding Period: 10/01/2023 – 06/30/2028
• Team
  • Herman T. Knopf, PI
  • Darbianne Shannon, Co-PI
  • Elizabeth Shenkman, Co-PI
  • Dévonja Daley, Research Coordinator II

• The University of Miami has partnered with the University of Florida Anita Zucker Center for Excellence in Early Childhood Studies to support their review of eligibility policy and families’ ability to government funded services including Thrive By Five, the Florida School Readiness Program, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, and the Temporary Cash Assistance Program.
• Funding Source: Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Equity-focused policy research program
• Funding Period: 10/15/2021 – 10/14/2024
• Team
  • Herman T. Knopf, Senior Research Scientist, University of Florida

• Award from the Pennsylvania Training and Technical Assistance Network (PaTTAN), Pennsylvania Department of Education, Bureau of Special Education
• 9/1/22 to 8/31/24
• Darbianne Shannon, PI
• Patricia Snyder, Co-PI

Funding Source: U.S. Department of Education

Funding Period: 7/1/2021 – 6/30/2025

Award Amount: $3,799,856

Team:

• Patricia Snyder, Principal Investigator, University of Florida
• Crystal Bishop, Co-Principal Investigator, University of Florida
• James Algina, Co-Principal Investigator, University of Florida
• Wei Li, Investigator, University of Florida
• Kallen Shaw, Project Coordinator, University of Florida
• Mollie Romano, Site Principal Investigator/Co-Principal Investigator, Florida State University
• Juliann Woods, Co-Principal Investigator, Florida State University

• Heising-Simons and the Buffett Early Childhood Fund through Teachers College Columbia University
• 7/1/2021 – 6/30/2023
• $174,500
• Chris Curran, PI
• Patricia Snyder, Co-PI

This project is one of three early childhood model demonstration grants focused on coaching in early childhood. Funded by the Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP), PBC-DIDM involves building a data-informed decision-making model for use with practice-based coaching (PBC). PBC is foundational to the work at the Center, including use in Embedded Instruction, BEST in CLASS, and Pyramid Model. This project’s team from the University of Florida, Vanderbilt University and six model demonstration sites are implementing and evaluating the PBC-DIDM model across three states and several diverse early childhood sites that serve young children with or at-risk for disabilities.

Read more about practice-based coaching here.

• Funding Source: Office of Special Education Programs
• Funding Period: 10/1/2020 – 9/30/2024
• Funding Number: H326M200021

Team:

• Patricia Snyder, Principal Investigator, University of Florida
• Darbianne Shannon, Co-Principal Investigator, University of Florida
• Maureen Conroy, Co-Principal Investigator, University of Florida
• Jennifer Harrington, Project Coordinator, University of Florida
• Mary Louise Hemmeter, Co-Principal Investigator, Vanderbilt University
• Kiersten Kinder, Site Coordinator, Vanderbilt University
• Sarah Basler, Educational Consultant, Vanderbilt University

• Early Career Development and Mentoring Award, Subaward from Baylor University, U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Special Education Research, Institute of Education Sciences
• 8/1/2020 – 7/31/2024
• Subaward: $10,000
• Total Award: $500,000
• Maureen Conroy, Primary Mentor for Early Career Award to Dr. Stephanie Gerow, Baylor University

• Early Career Development and Mentoring Award, Subaward from University of Minnesota, U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Special Education Research, Institute of Education Sciences
• 7/1/2020 – 6/30/2024
• Subaward: $10,000
• Total Award: $500,000
• Patricia Snyder, Primary Mentor for Early Career Award to Dr. Anne Larson, University of Minnesota

• Subaward from Virginia Commonwealth University, National Institutes of Health/National Institute of Mental Health
• 7/1/2020 – 4/30/2024
• Subaward: $336,576.77
• Total Award: $1,998,932
• Maureen Conroy, PI

• U.S. Department of Education, Institute of Education Sciences, National Center for Special Education Research
• 7/1/2020 – 6/30/2023
• $1,399,999
• Crystal Bishop, PI
• Brian Reichow, Co-PI
• Patricia Snyder, Co-PI
• James Algina, Co-PI

• The Early Learning Coalition of Pinellas County, Inc. contracted the University of Florida Anita Zucker Center for Excellence in Early Childhood Studies. This project involves conducting an analysis on application processes and fall-off rates among families. This assessment will use both administrative data from the Coalition and survey data collected by speaking with families to learn more about their application experiences.
• Funding Source: Early Learning Coalition of Pinellas County, Inc. (flow through funds from Administration for Children and Families)
• Funding Period: 02/17/2023 – 06/30/2023
• Team
  • Herman T. Knopf, Senior Research Scientist, University of Florida
  • Maya Schreiber, Research & Policy Analyst, University of Florida
  • Dévonja Daley, Research Coordinator, University of Florida
  • Phillip Sherlock, Research Assistant Professor, Northwestern University

• The Early Learning Coalition of Pasco and Hernando Counties, Inc. contracted the University of Florida Anita Zucker Center for Excellence in Early Childhood Studies to conduct a community needs assessment. This project involves assessing community strengths and needs to identify critical issues and areas for improvement in their early learning systems. This assessment will be used in the administration of the Florida School Readiness Program in these counties. There are four areas of interest to be completed in this community needs assessment: child care prices, child care capacity, child care workforce, and SR eligibility priorities.
• Funding Source: Early Learning Coalition of Pasco and Hernando Counties, Inc.
• Funding Period: 01/25/2023 – 06/30/2023
• Team
  • Herman T. Knopf, Senior Research Scientist, University of Florida
  • Maya Schreiber, Research & Policy Analyst, University of Florida
  • Dévonja Daley, Research Coordinator, University of Florida
  • Phillip Sherlock, Research Assistant Professor, Northwestern University

• This project involves the University of Florida Bureau of Economic and Business Research and Anita Zucker Center for Excellence in Early Childhood Studies. This project involves developing objective and statistically valid customer service surveys, measure outcomes for early learning coalitions and the Redlands Christian Migrant Association based on survey results using a statistically significant sample size of completed surveys calculated annually for each coalition and distribute the survey and provide technical support. This project fulfills requirements set in place by House Bill 419.
• Funding Source: Florida Department of Education’s Division of Early Learning
• Funding Period: 09/29/2022 – 06/30/2023
• Team
  • Scott Richards, Associate Director, University of Florida
  • Herman T. Knopf, Senior Research Scientist, University of Florida
  • Dévonja Daley, Research Coordinator, University of Florida

• The Economic Self-Sufficiency Analysis (ESSA) is required to be conducted under Florida’s Committee Substitute for Committee Substitute for House Bill No. 1349. Analyses describe eligibility policy, eligible populations using services, and use administrative data to describe the experiences of households with at least one child below the age of 14 (below 6 for Medicaid) using one or more of the following services:

  Florida School Readiness Program (SR)

  Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)

  Temporary Cash Assistance (TCA)

  Medicaid

  Housing Choice Voucher Program (HCV)

  In partnership with the Florida Division of Early Learning, the research team developed a final report of findings submitted to the Florida Legislature and Governor’s office.

• Funding Source: Prime: Office of Child Care, Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; funding flows through the Florida Department of Education Division of Early Learning
• Funding Period: 07/01/2021 – 06/30/2023
• Team:
  • Herman T. Knopf, Senior Research Scientist, University of Florida
  • Elizabeth Shenkman, Professor and Chair, University of Florida
  • Maya Schreiber, Research & Policy Analyst, University of Florida
  • Remy Pages, Post-Doctoral Associate, University of Florida
  • Erik Schmidt, IT Director, University of Florida
  • Jiawei Li, Data Management Analyst II, University of Florida
  • Yanning Wang, Data Management Analyst III, University of Florida
  • Jing Huang, Graduate Assistant, University of Florida
  • Dévonja Daley, Research Coordinator, University of Florida
  • Phillip Sherlock, Research Assistant Professor, Northwestern University
  • Courtney Blackwell, Research Assistant Professor, Northwestern University
  • Robert Chapman, Research Partner, Northwestern University
  • Brittany Birken, Principal Adviser, Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta
  • Elias Ilin, Assistant Policy Adviser and Economist, Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta
  • Alexander Ruder, Principal Adviser, Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta
  • Alvaro Sanchez, Research Analyst II, Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta
  • Ellyn Terry, Research Associate, Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta

• The Early Learning Coalition of Orange County contracted the University of Florida Anita Zucker Center for Excellence in Early Childhood Studies to provide analytical and geomapping support to model childcare capacity/demand. This project focuses on addressing the critical issue of childcare teacher and seat shortages in Orange County, FL and identifying systems innovations, alternative business models and enabling policy solutions.
• Funding Source: Early Learning Coalition of Orange County, Inc., and Helios Foundation
• Funding Period: 04/14/2022 – 06/30/2023
• Team
  • Herman T. Knopf, Senior Research Scientist, University of Florida
  • Maya Schreiber, Research & Policy Analyst, University of Florida

• The Sunshine Portal is a statewide early childhood integrated data system that includes administrative data from a variety of agencies from the health, economic and education sectors that support young children and their families within the early childhood mixed delivery system. The primary product is an interactive web portal that presents maps and other data visualization analyses to provide a comprehensive view of the strengths and needs within the state’s system to support data-informed decision-making among state and local policymakers.
• Funding Source: Prime: Office of Child Care, Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; funding flows through the Florida Department of Education Division of Early Learning
• Funding Period: 07/22/2020 – 06/30/2023
• Team:
• Herman T. Knopf, Senior Research Scientist, University of Florida
• Elizabeth Shenkman, Professor and Chair, University of Florida
• Maya Schreiber, Research & Policy Analyst, University of Florida
• Remy Pages, Post-Doctoral Associate, University of Florida
• Yujie Hu, Assistant Professor, University of Florida
• Erik Schmidt, IT Director, University of Florida
• Jiawei Li, Data Management Analyst II, University of Florida
• Yanning Wang, Data Management Analyst III, University of Florida
• Jaclyn Hall, Research Scientist, University of Florida
• Jing Huang, Graduate Assistant, University of Florida
• Dévonja Daley, Research Coordinator, University of Florida
• Phillip Sherlock, Research Assistant Professor, Northwestern University
• Courtney K. Blackwell, Research Assistant Professor, Northwestern University
• Robert Chapman, Research Partner, Northwestern University
• Brittany Birken, Principal Adviser, Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta
• Elias Ilin, Assistant Policy Adviser and Economist, Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta
• Alexander Ruder, Principal Adviser, Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta
• Alvaro Sanchez, Research Analyst II, Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta
• Ellyn Terry, Research Associate, Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta

• Subaward from the University of South Carolina, South Carolina Department of Social Services, Administration for Children and Families
• 10/1/2020 – 9/30/2021
• $25,212
• Darbianne Shannon, PI

• Subaward through the University of Alabama, Alabama Department of Human Services
• 10/1/2019 – 9/30/2021
• $50,000
• Herman Knopf, PI

• Florida Department of Health, Children’s Medical Services, Early Steps
• 7/29/2019 – 6/30/2022
• $1,610,355
• Patricia Snyder, PI
• Brian Reichow, Co-PI
• Crystal Bishop, Co-PI

• Subaward from Temple University, U.S. Department of Education, Institute of Education Sciences
• 7/1/2018 – 6/30/2022
• Subaward: $217,046
• Total Award: $1,500,000
• Patricia Snyder, PI

• Subaward from Virginia Commonwealth University, National Center for Education Research, U.S. Department of Education, Institute of Education Sciences
• 7/1/2018 – 6/30/2022
• $3,296,798
• Maureen Conroy, Co-PI

• U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs

• 1/1/2016 – 8/15/2021

• $995,218

• Maureen Conroy, PI

• Brian Reichow, Co-PI

• Patricia Snyder, Co-PI

• Mary McLean, Co-PI

• Subaward from Mathematica Policy Research, U.S. Department of Education, Institute of Education Sciences
• 11/23/2013 – 11/21/2021
• Subaward: $243,633
• Award: $4,995,000
• Patricia Snyder, Co-PI

• California Department of Education, Special Education Division, Napa County Office of Education, Fresno County Superintendent of Schools
• Year 1: $303,780 (7/1/2015 – 6/30/2016)
• Year 2: $300,000 (7/1/2016 – 6/30/2017)
• Year 3: $386,000 (7/1/2017 – 6/30/2018)
• Year 4: $490,686 (7/1/2018 – 6/30/2019)
• Year 5: $416,017 (7/1/2019 – 6/30/2020)
• Year 6: $369,000 (7/1/2020 – 6/30/2021)
• Patricia Snyder, PI
• Mary McLean, Co-PI

• Florida Office of Early Learning, U.S. Administration for Children and Families Preschool Development Grant B-5
• 7/9/2020 – 12/21/2020
• $75,000
• Patricia Snyder, PI
• Maureen Conroy, Co-PI
• Herman Knopf, Co-PI
• Mary McLean, Investigator
• Brian Reichow, Investigator

• San Diego County Office of Education
• 5/20/2020 – 6/30/2020
• $24,518.48
• Darbianne Shannon, PI

• Early Learning Coalition of Hillsborough County, U.S. Administration for Children and Families
• 3/1/2020 – 7/31/2020
• $12,767
• Herman Knopf, PI

• U.S. Administration for Children and Families Preschool Development Grant B-5, Florida’s Office of Early Learning
• 10/7/2019 – 6/30/2020
• $710,336.55
• Herman Knopf, PI

• Subaward from the University of South Carolina, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, South Carolina Department for Social Services, Office of Early Care and Education
• 10/1/2019 – 9/20/2020
• $38,469
• Herman Knopf, PI
• Darbianne Shannon, Co-PI
• Brian Reichow, Investigator
• Crystal Bishop, Investigator

• HEALthy Brain and Child Development Study, Funded by the National Institutes on Drug Abuse, National Institutes of Health
• 9/30/2019 – 3/31/2021
• $704,017
• Matthew Gurka, PI
• Patricia Snyder, Investigator
• Maureen Conroy, Investigator

• Subaward from University of Miami, Office of Special Education, Stepping Up Technology Implementation Grant, U.S. Department of Education
• 9/1/2019 – 3/31/2020
• $16,083
• Patricia Snyder, PI
• Darbianne Shannon, Co-PI

• Subaward through Florida’s Office of Early Learning, U.S. Administration for Children and Families Preschool Development Grant B-5
• 3/19/2019 – 7/31/2019
• $234,999
• Herman Knopf, PI

• Subaward from the University of South Carolina, Administration for Children and Families
• 10/1/2018 – 9/30/2019
• $38,400
• Herman Knopf, PI

• Subaward from the State Child Card Administrators Network
• 4/1/2018 – 3/31/2020
• $39,963
• Herman Knopf, PI

• Subaward from the University of South Carolina, Institute for Child Success
• 4/1/2018 – 9/30/2018
• $6,204
• Herman Knopf, PI

• Florida’s Office of Early Learning, U.S. Administration for Children and Families
• 11/20/2017 – 6/30/2019
• Subaward: $38,382
• Total Award: $540,360
• Mildred Maldonado, PI
• Herman Knopf, Co-PI

• Funded by the University of Florida as part of the UF Strategic Development Plan
• 5/1/2017 – 4/30/2018
• $50,000
• Herman T. Knopf, PI
• Maureen Conroy, Co-PI

• Florida Department of Health, Children’s Medical Services: Phases I, II, and III, U.S. Department of Education
• 2/2/2017 – 6/30/2019
• $576,072
• Patricia Snyder, PI
• Brian Reichow, Co-PI

• Subaward from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Programs
• 1/16/2017 – 6/30/2018
• $66,300
• Patricia Snyder, PI
• Brian Reichow, Co-PI

• Subaward from the University of New Hampshire, Monique Burr Foundation/Florida Attorney General’s Office
• 11/1/2016 – 06/30/2018
• $122,088
• Melissa A. Bright, Co-PI
• Anne Seraphine, Investigator
• M. David Miller, Investigator

• Subaward from the University of South Carolina, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, South Carolina Department for Social Services, Office of Early Care and Education
• 10/1/2016 – 9/30/2018
• $76,800
• Herman Knopf, PI

• Subaward from the University of South Carolina, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, South Carolina Department for Social Services, Office of Early Care and Education
• 9/1/2016 – 6/30/2019
• Subaward: $105,326
• Herman Knopf, PI

• Subaward from the University of South Carolina, S. Administration for Children and Families, Office of Planning Research and Evaluation
• 9/1/2016 – 2/28/2018
• Subaward: $28,040
• Herman Knopf, PI

• National Center for Special Education Research,S. Department of Education, Institute of Education Sciences
• 8/1/2016 – 7/31/2020
• $1,499,999
• Maureen Conroy, PI

• University of Florida, College of Education, College Research Incentive Fund
• 8/1/2016 – 7/31/2017
• $40,000
• Brian Reichow, PI

• Subaward from Virginia Commonwealth University, U.S. Department of Education, Institute of Education Sciences
• 7/1/2015 – 6/30/2018
• Subaward: $265,347
• Total Award: $1,499,939
• Maureen Conroy, PI

• U.S. Department of Education, Institute of Education Sciences
• 7/1/2015 – 6/30/2019
• $3,498,113
• Patricia Snyder, PI
• Mary McLean, Co-PI
• James Algina, Co-PI

• U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs
• 1/1/2015 – 12/31/2020
• $1,232,603
• Mary McLean, PI

• Subaward from John Hopkins University, U.S. Department of Education
• 1/1/2015 – 5/30/2015
• $114,938.38
• Mary McLean, PI
• Patricia Snyder, Co-PI

• Subaward from Virginia Commonwealth University, U.S. Department of Education, Institute of Education Sciences
• 9/1/2014 – 8/31/2018
• Total Award: $1,599,981
• Maureen Conroy, PI
• Patricia Snyder, Co-Investigator
• James Algina, Co-Investigator

• Subaward from Florida State University, U.S. Department of Education, Institute of Education Sciences
• 6/1/2013 – 5/31/2017
• Subaward: $312,795
• Total Award: $1,499,971
• Patricia Snyder, Co-PI

• U.S. Department of Education, Institute of Education Sciences
• 5/15/2012 – 12/31/2016
• $642,840
• Patricia Snyder, PI
• Maureen Conroy, Co-PI
• James Algina, Co-PI

• Subaward from Vanderbilt University, U.S. Department of Education, Institute of Education Sciences
• 3/1/2012 – 2/28/2017
• Subaward: $1,183,762
• Total Award: $3,500,000
• Patricia Snyder, Co-PI
• James Algina, Co-PI

• U.S. Department of Education, Institute of Education Sciences
• 8/15/2011 – 8/14/2015
• $4,134,515
• Maureen Conroy, PI

• American Educational Research Association, National Science Foundation
• 5/1/2011 – 4/30/2012
• $20,000
• Patricia Snyder, PI
• Tara McLaughlin, Co-PI

• Subaward from University of Washington, Head Start Bureau, Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
• 1/2011 – 9/2015
• $1,071,385
• Patricia Snyder, PI
• Mary McLean, Co-PI
• Maureen Conroy, Co-PI

• Subaward from University of Washington, Department of Children and Families
• 9/30/2008 – 9/29/2011
• $225,000
• Patricia Snyder, PI

• U.S. Department of Education, Institute of Education Sciences
• 5/1/2008 – 4/30/2011
• $1,500,000
• Maureen Conroy, PI

• Subaward from Vanderbilt University and Siskin Children’s Institute, U.S. Department of Education, Institute of Education Sciences
• 7/1/2007 – 6/30/2012
• Subaward: $414,228.06
• Total Award: $1,622,779
• Patricia Snyder, Co-PI

• Subaward from Vanderbilt University, U.S. Department of Education, Institute of Education Sciences
• 3/1/2007 – 2/28/2012
• Subaward: $375,664
• Total Award: $1,835,866
• Patricia Snyder, Co-PI

• U.S. Department of Education, Institute of Education Sciences
• 3/1/2007 – 2/28/2011
• $1,288,510
• Patricia Snyder, PI