Various research findings have shown the benefits of a child’s participation in quality early care and education programs, mostly preschools, well into their adult years. High quality early care preschool settings are environments in which children feel safe to explore and learn about themselves and the world around them. They offer family support services, food and nutrition programs, as well as a place in which children can socialize and learn.

From neurons to neighborhoods: The science of early childhood development (book)
This book is a product of the evaluation and integration of the current state of the science on early childhood development. It discusses many issues including nature and nurture, culture, communications, getting along with peers, childcare and community.
http://books.nap.edu/openbook.php?isbn=0309069882

The Earliest Years: Review of Research, Best Practices and Wise Investments for Children Ages 0 through 3
FIRST 5 Santa Clara County (FIRST 5) recognizes that school readiness begins at birth and is interested in exploring how most effectively to increase its investments in programs for children ages 0 through 3. To support FIRST 5 in its decision making about promising programs for children ages 0 through 3, SRI International conducted a literature review of the factors that influence children’s health and development in the first years of life and programs that support their optimal development.

0-3 Literature Review Report » (pdf)

The Carolina Abecedarian Project
The Abecedarian Project was a carefully controlled study in which 57 infants from low-income families were randomly assigned to receive early intervention in a high quality child care setting and 54 were in a non-treated control group. This degree of scientific control gives investigators greater confidence that differences between the treated and untreated individuals can be attributed to the intervention itself, rather than to differences among treated and untreated families.
http://www.fpg.unc.edu/~abc/

Early Childhood Investment Yields Big Payoff (2005)
Recent studies have found that investing in high-quality early childhood development (ECD) programs can positively impact children, their families, taxpayers, and the government. This paper examines the likely benefits of investing in a high-quality, large-scale, publicly funded ECD program for children living in poverty.
Early Childhood Investment Yield Payoff » (pdf, 350 KB)

Building Community Systems for Young Children: Early Childhood Education (2004)
Early care and education is included as an essential component because of its potential to support children’s early learning, health, and development of social competence. The 2001 Institute of Medicine report From Neurons to Neighborhoods shows that experiences in early childhood predict school success as well as lifelong achievement.
Building Community System for Young Children Report » (pdf, 350 KB)

Compendium of School Readiness Resources (2004)
A list of references to research studies and practical resources in the areas of early care and education, family/parenting support, health and social services, school capacity, and program infrastructure, administration, and evaluation.
Disabilities Compendium » (pdf, 168 KB)

Transition to School - Compendium of Resources (2004)
A list of articles, reports, and websites that address issues regarding the transition of young children to school.
Transition to School Compendium » (pdf, 200 KB)

Local Early Education Planning Council of Santa Clara County Child Care needs Assessment (2003)
Of the 87,500 children age 0-5 that need child care, an estimated 34,600 children or 40% of the total children needing care, need financial or other assistance with their child care. 20,400 of these 34,600 children are in need of publicly subsidized child care. Currently, 11,000 of these 20,400 children age 0-5 are being served through the subsidized system in Santa Clara County, leaving 9,400 children age 0-5 in the county not receiving assistance.
Child Care Needs Assessment Report 2003 » (pdf, 373 KB)

Early Care and Education Partnerships: State Actions and Local Lessons (2003)
This report was developed by the Partnership Impact Research Project to learn about the nature of early care and education partnerships and their impact on quality and access to services. The project analyzes qualitative data in an existing database that was collected by the QUILT—Quality In Linking Together: Early Education Partnerships initiative.
Early Care and Education Partnerships: State Actions and Local Lessons » (pdf, 1.7 MB)

Connections and Commitments: A Latino-Based Framework for Early Childhood Educators (2002)
More than 35 million Latinos live in our 50 states and territories, representing all Latin American countries and a broad range of backgrounds, needs, and expectations. One third of this population are children. By 2020, one in four children will be of Latino origin. With increasing numbers of young Latino children entering our early child care system, it is critical that the early childhood field is prepared to work with this population.
Connections and Commitments: A Latino-Based Framework for Early Childhood Educators Report » (pdf, 167 KB)

Bridging Borders In Silicon Valley Summit On Immigrant Needs And Contributions (2000)
The findings, results, and conclusions in this final report are the product of the hundreds of participants from state, county, and local governments, from educational institutions and schools, from non-profit agencies and religious institutions, from unions and community organizations, from business owners and ethnic chambers of commerce, and from immigrants and US-born citizens. It is hoped that this final report will serve as a blueprint for discussion and action for improving the lives of immigrants in Santa Clara County at the beginning of the 21st century.
http://www.immigrantinfo.org/borders/index.html

Evaluation of the First 5 California Children of Migrant and Seasonal Farm Workers Project (January 2007)
In October 2003 the First 5 California Children and Families Commission funded the First 5 California Children of Migrant and Seasonal Farm Workers Project, an enhancement of the California Migrant Education Even Start Program (MEES). This report presents the results of the evaluation of the effect of that project on three- and four-year old children.

Executive Summary » (pdf, 43 KB)
MEES Report » (pdf, 280 KB)

Kindergarten Readiness Report 2006-2007
This report represents the third and final year of the three‐year benchmark of kindergarten readiness in Santa Clara County. This report serves as an addendum to the full report entitled “Are Children Ready For School? Assessment of Kindergarten Readiness in San Mateo and Santa Clara Counties” published in 2005. For a copy of that report, readers can refer to www.appliedsurveyresearch.org.
Kindergarten Readiness Report 2006-2007 » (pdf, 1.22 MB)