About the System Transformation for Equitable Preschools (STEP Forward with Data) Framework

The Framework centers the experiences of those whom the data represent (i.e., children, families, and workforce members from identified focal populations important to preschool systems leaders). When early childhood system leaders seek improvements for children and families who have faced historic or systemic inequities, these system-level changes help all children and families access early learning programs that meet their needs.  

Building on past research about those who face systemic or historical inequities in accessing early learning opportunities, we focused development of the Framework on certain focal populations while acknowledging that many additional populations may also lack access to high-quality preschool in their communities. The focal populations include:  

• Families experiencing poverty  
• Black, Hispanic/Latino, and Indigenous families  
• Families of children with disabilities or developmental delays  
• Children in immigrant families  
• Families with multilingual learners  
• Early childhood workforce members  

The Early Childhood Data Collaborative (ECDC) at Child Trends convened a national consortium of experts and partners to inform the development of the Framework across two years. Experts represented federal and state partners, researchers, and organizations that focus on equity, data systems, and early learning. Experts actively contributed to the Framework development and reviewed to ensure that the Framework development was based on guiding principles, which were co-created between ECDC and the experts. 

Although the consortium of experts had a more direct hand in developing the Framework, the experts and the ECDC team were committed to informing its development through the lens of those who would implement the Framework or support its implementation, such as early childhood system leaders and their partners and technical assistance providers.  

• National early childhood and equity experts  
• Child Trends and ECDC experts  
• State early childhood system leaders  
• Technical assistance (TA) providers  

Building on the Framework goals, the ECDC—in partnership with the consortium—identified the following principles to drive the development of the Framework. These principles were used to help prioritize the Framework’s content, scope, and design, and were referenced to ensure that the Framework’s language and articulated goals were inclusive and useful in all states, territories, and Tribal contexts.  

• Aligned with the broader early childhood system.  
• Asset-driven rather than deficit-focused approach 
• Applicable for all early childhood system structures 
• User-centered and actionable