Projects

CURRENT FUNDED PROJECTS

The Effects of Promoting Engaging Early Literacy Interactions in Preschool Environments: Literacy 3D

Read the IES abstract here

  • Funding Agency: Institute of Education Sciences, subaward from Juniper Gardens Children’s Project at The University of Kansas
  • Award Number: R305A170241
  • Project Period: 8/16/2023 – 6/30/2025
  • Award Amount: $58,635
  • Key Personnel
    • Alana Schnitz, PI, University of Kansas
    • Dwight Irvin, Site PI/Co-PI, University of Florida

 

Sunshine State Early Childhood Information Portal Expansion and Pilot Implementation of Practice- Based Coaching within Florida's Early Care and Education System

The purpose of this contract is to engage the Anita Zucker Center’s Early Childhood Policy Research
Group (ECPRG) 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 Anita Zucker Center’s ECPRG 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.

Read the IES abstract here

  • Funding Source: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
  • Award Number: 24-L05
  • Project Period: 9/29/2023 – 6/30/2028
  • Award Amount: $7,727,240
  • Key Personnel:
    • Herman Knopf, PI, University of Florida
    • Elizabeth Ann Shenkman, Co-PI, University of Florida
    • Darbianne Shannon, Co-PI, University of Florida
    • Dévonja Daley, Research Coordinator II, University of Florida
Pilot Implementation of Practice-Based Coaching within Florida's Early Care and Education System

The Anita Zucker Center Practice-Based Coaching Initiative for the Florida Department of Education Division of Early Learning is one part of the FL-DEL Sunshine Portal Contract (Contract # 24-L05). The Anita Zucker Center Practice-Based Coaching (AZC-PBC) Initiative is a collaboration between the Anita Zucker Center for Excellence in Early Childhood Studies and the Florida Department of Education, Division of Early Learning (FL-DEL). The AZC-PBC Initiative will expand access to evidence-based Practice-Based Coaching (PBC, Snyder et al., 2022) materials and implementation support for Early Learning Coalitions and Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program (VPK) providers throughout the state of Florida. The AZC-PBC Initiative will strengthen existing coach efforts in these settings by (a) enhancing coach knowledge and skills and (b) supporting educators’ consistent use of effective practices with children and their families.

 

  • Funding Agency: 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, internal subaward through the University of Florida
  • Award Number: 24-L05
  • Project Period: 7/1/2023 – 8/31/2025
  • Award Amount: $242,117
  • Key Personnel:
    • Darbianne Shannon, PI, University of Florida
    • Patricia Snyder, Co-PI, University of Florida
    • Crystal Bishop, Co-PI, University of Florida
    • Maureen Conroy, Co-PI, University of Florida
    • Rachel Eubanks, Project Manager II, University of Florida
    • Kim Kohler, Education & Training Specialist II, University of Florida
Collaborative Research: Using Sensing Technology and Automated Speech Recognition to Capture Teacher Language Interactions in Diverse Pre-K Classrooms

This project will use existing sensing technology tools to record teachers’ talk with children and teacher-child proximity to determine when and with whom teacher language interactions occur. This project will benefit society by offering a granular view of the language learning environments of young children, with the eventual goal of sharing concrete, actionable data with teachers about how to support children.

Read the NSF abstract here

 

  • Funding Agency: National Science Foundation
  • Award Number: 2341383
  • Project Period: 6/13/2024 – 6/30/2027
  • Award Amount: $109,799
  • Key Personnel:
    • Elizabeth Hadley, PI, University of South Florida
    • John Hansen, PI, University of Texas at Dallas
    • Dwight Irvin, PI, University of Florida
Longitudinal Peer Social Networks and Early Language Development: Transforming Understanding of Critical Features of Young Children’s Classroom Experiences

This study is designed to fundamentally improve our understanding of how peer social networks, in particular the language skills of those within a child’s social network, influences language development in preschool settings. This multi-disciplinary team examines language development and peer interactions using longitudinal social network analyses for 30 preschool classrooms and 500 children. State-of-the-art sensing systems involving location trackers and voice-activated recorders provide continuous data on who children interact with and the precise nature of peer-to-peer talk to examine the nature of peer language networks for their influence on language development over time. We examine individual differences in children’s peer language networks, the effects of these networks on growth, and also important moderators of the relations between peer language networks and language growth as a function of child-level characteristics. Results of this study are likely to transform understanding of peer-to-peer dynamics in preschool classrooms and support teachers’ use of practices to leverage the role of peers in shaping early language development.

 

  • Funding Agency: The Spencer Foundation, subaward from The Ohio State University
  • Award Number: 202200007
  • Project Period: 2/1/2023 – 9/30/2025
  • Award Amount: $ 112,328
  • Key Personnel:
    • Laura Justice, PI, The Ohio State University
    • Dwight Irvin, Site PI/Co-PI, University of Florida
    • Daniel Messinger, Co-PI, University of Maimi
    • Jay Buzhardt, Co-PI, University of Kansas
Collaborative Research: Social-Emotional Analysis of the Language Environment (SEAL): Key Word & Phrase Spotting in Early Childhood Care Settings

This project develops a tool for conducting a Social Emotional Analysis of the Language Environment (SEAL). SEAL uses advanced speech processing algorithms to automatically capture a key element of teacher practice in early childhood education classrooms known to support social-emotional learning and their use of language, including words and phrases, within everyday interactions that tap into social-emotional learning.

Read the NSF abstract here

 

  • Funding Agency: National Science Foundation, subaward from the University of Kansas
  • Award Number: 2235041
  • Project Period: 6/15/2023 – 7/31/2025
  • Award Amount: $42,000
  • Key Personnel:
    • Kathryn Bigelow, PI, University of Kansas
    • John Hansen, PI, University of Texas at Dallas
    • Dwight Irvin, Site PI/Co-PI, University of Florida
Collaborative Research: CSL-MultiAD: Assessing Collaborative STEM Learning through Rich Information Flow based on Multi-Sensor Audio Diarization

This project uses existing wearable technology and advanced speech recognition/diarization algorithms to monitor child engagement over time during science in the classroom, home, and community-based settings. Existing algorithms are refined to analyze who is speaking and when and identify key words of interest for science topics and learning assessment.

Read the NSF abstract here

 

  • Funding Agency: National Science Foundation, Cyberlearning & Future Learning Technologies
  • Award Number: 2330366
  • Project Period: 8/1/2019 – 7/31/2025
  • Award Amount: $300,000
  • Key Personnel:
    • John Hansen, PI, University of Texas at Dallas
    • Dwight Irvin, PI, University of Florida
    • Jay Buzhardt, Co-PI, University of Kansas
Effectiveness Replication of the BEST in CLASS Intervention for Young Children at High Risk for Delays in Social or Emotional Development

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 Agency: Institute of Education Sciences, subaward from Virginia Commonwealth University
  • Award Number: R324R210005
  • Project Period: 1/27/2022 – 8/31/2025
  • Award Amount: $293,882
  • Key Personnel:
    • Carl Sumi, PI, SRI International
    • Michelle Woodbridge, Co-PI, SRI International
    • Maureen Conroy, PI, University of Florida
    • Kevin Sutherland, PI, Virginia Commonwealth University
    • Alexandra Montesion, Research Coordinator II, University of Florida
Initial Efficacy Trial of Florida Embedded Practices and Intervention with Caregivers

Florida Embedded Practices and Intervention with Caregivers (FL-EPIC) is adapted from EPIC (R324A130121). It builds on longstanding collaborations between the University of Florida’s Anita Zucker Center and the CEC-RAP Center at Florida State University to support caregiver coaching and embedded practices and intervention in early intervention programs throughout Florida. This study will provide additional efficacy evidence for FL-EPIC in which providers learn home visiting practices that build families’ confidence in supporting their children’s learning during everyday routines and activities. This project’s transdisciplinary team partners with local Early Steps programs across Florida to identify providers and families to participate. The intervention includes caregiver coaching using home visiting practices and supporting caregivers to develop family and child plans for learning in everyday routines and activities (i.e., embedded intervention). It also involves job-embedded professional development for providers, including workshops and practice-based coaching.

Read the IES abstract here

 

  • Funding Agency: Institute of Education Sciences
  • Award Number: R324A210081
  • Project Period: 7/1/2021 – 6/30/2026
  • Award Amount: $3,799,856
  • Key Personnel:
    • Patricia Snyder, PI, University of Florida
    • Crystal Bishop, PI, University of Florida
    • James Algina, Co-PI, University of Florida
    • Wei Li, Investigator, University of Florida
    • Kallen Shaw, Project Coordinator, University of Florida
    • Mollie Romano, Site PI/Co-PI, Florida State University
    • Juliann Woods, Co-PI, Florida State University
Practice-Based Coaching Data Informed Decision Making Model (PBC-DIDM)

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 the IES abstract here

 

  • Funding Agency: U.S. Department of Education
  • Award Number: H326M200021
  • Project Period: 10/1/2020 – 9/30/2025
  • Award Amount: $1,591,467
  • Key Personnel:
      • Patricia Snyder, PI, University of Florida
      • Darbianne Shannon, Co-PI, University of Florida
      • Maureen Conroy, Co-PI University of Florida
      • Jennifer Harrington, Project Coordinator III, University of Florida
      • Mary Louise Hemmeter, Co-PI, Vanderbilt University
      • Kiersten Kinder, Site Coordinator, Vanderbilt University
      • Sarah Basler, Educational Consultant, Vanderbilt University
Development and Evaluation of Tools for Families (TfF): An Intervention to Promote Family Engagement in Embedded Instruction for Early Learning

Building on Embedded Instruction for Early Learning: Tools for Teachers (R324A07006; R324A150076), this project is developing and evaluating a new part of Embedded Instruction for Early Learning known as Tools for Families. This project extends previous research on embedded instruction for children with or at risk for disabilities. Tools for Families focuses on developing, validating, and evaluating materials and accompanying tools to enhance collaborative partnership practices between teachers and families to support the use of embedded instruction across home, school, and community settings to benefit child development and learning.

Read the IES abstract here

  • Funding Agency: U.S. Department of Education, Institute of Education Sciences, National Center for Special Education Research
  • Award Number: R324A200044
  • Project Period: 7/1/2020 – 6/30/2025
  • Award Amount: $1,399,999
  • Key Personnel:
    • Crystal Bishop, PI, University of Florida
    • Patricia Snyder, Co-PI, University of Florida
    • James Algina, Co-PI, University of Florida
    • Ann Turnbull, Project Consultant, University of Kansas
    • Katie White, Research Coordinator II, University of Florida
    • Alexandra Montesion, Research Coordinator II, University of Florida

 

Multi-level Determinants of Implementation and Sustainment in the Education Sector

This project focuses on identifying factors that support the sustained use of the BEST in CLASS intervention practices in early elementary classroom settings. The team works with administrators, teachers, and caregivers to identify factors influencing their adoption and use of the BEST in CLASS intervention.

Read about this study here
Read the VCU abstract here

  • Funding Source: National Institute of Mental Health, subaward from Virginia Commonwealth University
  • Award Number: R01MH124439-01
  • Project Period: 7/1/2020 – 4/30/2025
  • Award Amount: $826,235.77
  • Key Personnel:
    • Maureen Conroy, PI, University of Florida
    • Bryce McLeod, PI, Virginia Commonwealth University
    • Kevin Southerland, PI, Virginia Commonwealth University
    • Alexandra Montesion, Research Coordinator II, University of Florida
Florida Embedded Practices and Intervention with Caregivers – Early Steps Professional Development (FL-EPIC ESPD) - Supplement 23-26

Florida Embedded Practices and Intervention with Caregivers (FL-EPIC) Early Steps Professional Development (ESPD) is a collaboration that began in 2017 among the Anita Zucker Center at the University of Florida, the CEC-RAP Center at Florida State University, the Florida Department of Health, Children’s Medical Services, Early Steps program, and local Early Steps programs throughout Florida. FL-EPIC was adapted from EPIC (R324A130121) for use in the Florida Early Steps program (an early intervention program for infants and toddlers with or at risk for disabilities and their families). The primary goal of FL-EPIC ESPD is to support and examine the installation, implementation, sustainability and scale-up of FL-EPIC across the state of Florida. Throughout Florida, early intervention sites are supported by local and statewide leadership teams, including coaches, to implement FL-EPIC practices.

 

  • Funding Agency: Florida Department of Health, Children’s Medical Services, Early Steps
  • Award Number: COQXY R1
  • Project Period: 7/1/2019 – 6/30/2026
  • Award Amount: $4,482,973
  • Key Personnel:
    • Patricia Snyder, PI, University of Florida
    • Crystal Bishop, PI, University of Florida
    • Mollie Romano, PI/Co-PI, Florida State University
    • Juliann Woods, Co-PI, Florida State University
    • Cinda Clark, Research Coordinator III, University of Florida
    • Jennifer Harrington, Research Coordinator III, University of Florida
    • Katie White, Research Coordinator II, University of Florida
Effectiveness Replication of the BEST in CLASS Intervention for Young Children at High Risk for Delays in Social or Emotional Development

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 Sunshine State Early Childhood Information Portal Expansion
  • 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
Examining Equitable Access to Early Learning Resources and Family Strengthening Supports in Miami-Dade County
  • 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
Embedded Instruction for Early Learning Pennsylvania
  • 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
Early Childhood Policy in Institutions of Higher Education
  • 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
Practice-Based Coaching Data-Informed Decision Making (PBC-DIDM) H326M200021

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
Developing and Evaluating the Feasibility of a Manualized Tier 3 Problem Behavior Intervention for Young Children with Developmental Delay, Gerow Early Career Award R324B200034
  • 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
Video-and App-based naturalistic Language Instruction (VALI) for Spanish-speaking caregivers to support bilingual language development in children with or at-risk for language delays R324B200038
  • 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
Multi-level Determinants of Implementation and Sustainment in the Education Sector 1R01MH124439-01
  • 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
Development and Evaluation of Tools for Families (TfF): An Intervention to Promote Family Engagement in Embedded Instruction for Early Learning R324A200044

Building on Embedded Instruction for Early Learning: Tools for Teachers (R324A07006; R324A150076), this project is developing and evaluating a new part of Embedded Instruction for Early Learning known as Tools for Families. This project extends previous research on embedded instruction for children with or at risk for disabilities. Tools for Families focuses on developing, validating, and evaluating materials and accompanying tools to enhance collaborative partnership practices between teachers and families to support the use of embedded instruction across home, school, and community settings to benefit child development and learning.

Read the IES abstract here.

  • Funding Source: Institute of Education Sciences
  • Funding Period: 7/1/2020 – Present
  • Funding Number: R324A200044

Team:

    • Crystal Bishop, Principal Investigator, University of Florida
    • Patricia Snyder, Co-Principal Investigator, University of Florida
    • James Algina, Co-Principal Investigator, University of Florida
    • Mary McLean, Investigator, University of Florida

PAST FUNDED PROJECTS

Measuring Family Success in Connecting to Services at the Early Learning Coalition of Pinellas County
  • 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
Early Learning Coalition of Pasco and Hernando Counties, Inc. Community Needs Assessment
  • 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
Division of Early Learning Statewide Customer Satisfaction Survey
  • 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
Economic Self-Sufficiency Analysis
  • 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
Orange County Child Care Access
  • 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 State Early Childhood Information Portal
  • 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
Building a Statewide System for Inclusion
  • 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
Measuring and Mapping Child Care Access in Alabama
  • Subaward through the University of Alabama, Alabama Department of Human Services
  • 10/1/2019 – 9/30/2021
  • $50,000
  • Herman Knopf, PI
Florida Embedded Practices and Intervention with Caregivers – Early Steps Professional Development (FL-EPIC ESPD) COQXY
  • 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
Training Teachers to Teach Vocabulary (T3V): A Professional Development Intervention for Toddler and Preschool Teachers Serving Children at Risk for Communication Difficulties R324A180192
  • 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
A Conceptual Replication of BEST in CLASS: An Efficacy Study of BEST in CLASS-Elementary R305A180182
  • 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
Preparing Leaders in Early Childhood Studies and Implementation Science: Project PLECS-IS H325D150079
  • 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

Evaluation of Preschool Special Education Practices ED-IES-14-C-0001
  • 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
Embedded Instruction California Pilot Study
  • 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
Screening Early Intervention Workgroup and Tracking System
    • 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
Technical Assistance Services for San Diego County Office of Education
  • San Diego County Office of Education
  • 5/20/2020 – 6/30/2020
  • $24,518.48
  • Darbianne Shannon, PI
Studying the Impact of HB1091 on Child Care Access in Hillsborough County
  • Early Learning Coalition of Hillsborough County, U.S. Administration for Children and Families
  • 3/1/2020 – 7/31/2020
  • $12,767
  • Herman Knopf, PI
Sunshine State Early Childhood Information Portal: Florida’s Early Childhood Integrated Data System
  • 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
Building a Statewide System for Inclusion
  • 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
Florida Development in Early Childhood: Adversity and Drug Exposure (FL-DECADE) Study 1R34DA050299-01
  • 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
Technical Assistance for Step Up AT: Improving Literacy Through Technology H327S160017-18
  • 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
Florida Preschool Development Grant Birth through Five years old (PDG B-5)
  • 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
Building a Statewide System for Inclusion
  • Subaward from the University of South Carolina, Administration for Children and Families
  • 10/1/2018 – 9/30/2019
  • $38,400
  • Herman Knopf, PI
State Child Care Administrators Network (SCCAN)
  • Subaward from the State Child Card Administrators Network
  • 4/1/2018 – 3/31/2020
  • $39,963
  • Herman Knopf, PI
Institute for Child Success Project
  • Subaward from the University of South Carolina, Institute for Child Success
  • 4/1/2018 – 9/30/2018
  • $6,204
  • Herman Knopf, PI
Office of Early Learning Web Portal
  • 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
Building a Partnership Between Early Head Start and the Anita Zucker Center for Excellence in Early Childhood Studies to Benefit Young Children and Families in East Gainesville
  • 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
Increasing Social-Emotional Outcomes for Florida’s Early Steps Infants/Toddlers
  • 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
Special Education-Technical Assistance and Dissemination to Improve Services and Results for Children with Disabilities H326P120002
  • 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
Evaluating the Child Safety Matters Child Abuse and Bullying Prevention K-5 Curriculum
  • 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
Building a Statewide System for Inclusion 50000013061
  • 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
South Carolina Child Care Resource and Referral Network
  • 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
Child Care Accessibility Index: Leveraging South Carolina Child Care Administrative Data to Inform State CCDBG Subsidy Policies 90YE0176-01-00
  • 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
BEST in CLASS-Web: A Web-Based Intervention Supporting Early Childhood Teachers’ Use of Evidence-Based Practices with Young Children at Risk for Emotional/Behavioral Disorders R324A160158
  • 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
Adaptation of World Health Organization Caregiver Skills Training for Caregivers of Children with Disabilities in Zambia
  • University of Florida, College of Education, College Research Incentive Fund
  • 8/1/2016 – 7/31/2017
  • $40,000
  • Brian Reichow, PI
BEST in CLASS-Elementary: A Preventative Classroom-Based Intervention Model R305A150246
  • 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
Impact of Professional Development on Preschool Teachers’ Use of Embedded Instruction Practices: An Efficacy Trial of Tools for Teachers R324A150076
  • 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
Preparation and Retention of Early Intervention/Early Childhood Special Education Personnel: Preparing for Evidence-Based Practice in High Need Early Childhood Settings (Project Prepare) H325K141235
  • U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs
  • 1/1/2015 – 12/31/2020
  • $1,232,603
  • Mary McLean, PI
Expansion of Learning Progressions S414A120028
  • 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
Development and Validation of a Treatment Integrity Measure of Classroom-Based Instructional Interventions in Early Childhood Settings R305A140487
  • 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
Embedded Practices and Interventions with Caregivers (EPIC) R324A130121
  • 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
Postdoctoral Research Training Fellowship in Early Intervention and Early Learning in Special Education at the University of Florida R324B120002
  • 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
Examining the Efficacy of a Classroom-Wide Model for Promoting Social Emotional Development and Addressing Challenging Behavior in Preschool Children with or at-risk for Disabilities R324A120178
  • 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
Efficacy of the BEST in CLASS Intervention for Young Children at High-Risk for Emotional and Behavioral Disorders R324A110173
  • U.S. Department of Education, Institute of Education Sciences
  • 8/15/2011 – 8/14/2015
  • $4,134,515
  • Maureen Conroy, PI
Functional Profiles and Young Children’s Social Competence: Exploring Relationships in the Pre-Elementary Educational Longitudinal Study (PEELS) Data Set DRL-0941014
  • American Educational Research Association, National Science Foundation
  • 5/1/2011 – 4/30/2012
  • $20,000
  • Patricia Snyder, PI
  • Tara McLaughlin, Co-PI
National Center for Quality Teaching and Learning 90HC0002
  • 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
Head Start Center for Inclusion 90YD0270
  • Subaward from University of Washington, Department of Children and Families
  • 9/30/2008 – 9/29/2011
  • $225,000
  • Patricia Snyder, PI
Promoting Social, Emotional and Behavioral Competence in Young High-Risk Children: A Preventative Classroom-based Early Intervention Model R324A080074
  • U.S. Department of Education, Institute of Education Sciences
  • 5/1/2008 – 4/30/2011
  • $1,500,000
  • Maureen Conroy, PI
TEIDS Plus: Integrating Quality Assurance and Data-Based Decision Making to Enhance IFSP Quality, Implementation and Child and Family Outcomes R324B070266
  • 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
Examining the Potential Efficacy of a Classroom Wide Model for Promoting Social Emotional Development and Addressing Challenging Behavior in Preschool Children With and Without Disabilities R324A070212
  • 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
Impact of Professional Development on Preschool Teachers’ Use of Embedded-Instruction Practices R324A070008
  • U.S. Department of Education, Institute of Education Sciences
  • 3/1/2007 – 2/28/2011
  • $1,288,510
  • Patricia Snyder, PI
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