#  SDP Early Education Tools 

 



#### In early education, data siloes and fragmented systems create a major barrier to helping state and local education systems make well-informed decisions about communities and families. To help address this, [the Gates Foundation funded a working group of 13 SDP Fellows](/news/strategic-data-project-welcomes-46-fellows-cohort-16-sdp-fellowship-includes-first-early "The Strategic Data Project Welcomes 46 Fellows into Cohort 16 of the SDP Fellowship, Includes First Early Education Working Group "), representing providers, state education agencies, and local education agencies, to tackle similar analyses across their contexts and geographies. 



 

##  Access the Data Toolkits 

These toolkits were directly informed by the Working Group SDP Fellows' projects and experiences.

 

 



  [### Preschool Supply and Demand: Balancing Available Programs and Family Needs

 ](https://sdp.cepr.harvard.edu/preschool-supply-and-demand-toolkit)Now available

How do we know whether preschool programs are meeting the needs of children and families—especially those from historically underserved communities? This toolkit helps agencies assess preschool supply and demand—the balance, or mismatch, between available programs and families’ needs and desires—by providing resources, best practices, practical data tools, and lessons learned from eight early childhood agencies.

This toolkit helps agencies assess preschool supply and demand: the balance—or mismatch—between available preschool programs and families’ needs and desires at any time.



 

   ![Preschool Supply and Demand](/sites/g/files/omnuum4446/files/styles/hwp_1_1__360x360_scale/public/2026-09/Early%20Ed%20Covers.png?itok=4JMUT4PG) 

 

 

 

 ### The Early Learning Journey: Connecting Preschool Data to Elementary Outcomes

Coming October 21, 2026

Is PreK building a strong foundation for students’ later learning? This toolkit helps agencies track longitudinal student outcomes from PreK–2nd grade by connecting information about the same children over time. It provides resources, tools, and lessons learned from five education agencies to help users understand and use their own data, link records across PreK–2, conduct analyses, and create tools for stakeholders.

This toolkit helps agencies track longitudinal student outcomes: how children learn and develop as they move through the critical transition from preschool into the early elementary years.



 

   ![The Early Learning Journey: Connecting Preschool Data to Elementary Outcomes](/sites/g/files/omnuum4446/files/styles/hwp_1_1__360x360_scale/public/2026-09/Early%20Ed%20Covers%20%281%29.png?itok=-Bkmae8M) 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

##  Learn more about SDP's Early Education Work 

 



  [### The Strategic Data Project Welcomes 46 Fellows into Cohort 16 of the SDP Fellowship, Includes First Early Education Working Group 

 ](/news/strategic-data-project-welcomes-46-fellows-cohort-16-sdp-fellowship-includes-first-early) October 21, 2024 

 

   [### Meet the 13 Strategic Data Project Fellows working to promote more equitable preschool systems

 ](/blog/meet-13-strategic-data-project-fellows-working-promote-more-equitable-preschool-systems) August 13, 2024 

 

   [### Supporting Our Youngest Learners: When Data Alone Isn’t Enough 

 ](/news/2025/08/supporting-our-youngest-learners-when-data-alone-isnt-enough) August 19, 2025