Our new report (coming soon) breaks down why access to education for all children who live in the U.S. still matters—and what’s at stake if this basic tenet of opportunity is weakened. Subscribe to our newsletter to be notified when this timely report is released: https://cep.asu.edu/

In 2024, over 800k kids (birth to age 5) & pregnant women were served by Head Start—delivered through 3,325 early childhood programs across nearly every ZIP code in the U.S. & it only makes up 0.18% of the federal budget. Learn more: https://cep.asu.edu/resources/AdvancingEducationalOpportunity

Education is a right—but still needs protection. 📚 Plyler v. Doe guarantees access to public education for all children. Our report shows how federal civil rights protections build on it—and what’s at risk if they’re weakened. Learn more: https://cep.asu.edu/resources/SafeguardingCivilRights

Access to public education isn’t optional; it’s a constitutional right. In Plyler v. Doe, the Supreme Court affirmed that all children (regardless of immigration status) have the right to attend public K–12 schools. Read more: https://cep.asu.edu/resources/SafeguardingCivilRights

When children are excluded from education, the effects ripple outward, shaping workforce outcomes, public health, & community well-being. Our report (coming soon) explores the real-world consequences of those choices & why maintaining access matters. Subscribe: https://cep.asu.edu/

Since 1964, Head Start has supported 40+ million children & families from low-income households. Research shows it works, supporting child development & learning, parent education, employment, opportunity, & more. Learn more: https://cep.asu.edu/resources/AdvancingEducationalOpportunity

In Plyler v. Doe, the Court rejected the idea that children should be excluded from school. New efforts to weaken that precedent risk long-term economic loss, workforce gaps, & higher public costs. Our upcoming report explains what’s at stake. Subscribe: https://cep.asu.edu/

📊 Research shows that fear of deportation can lead to high stress in kids. Studies cited in our report find increased anxiety, depression, & trauma-related behaviors among kids in immigrant families. 🔗 Read the full findings: https://cep.asu.edu/resources/SupportingImmigrantChildrenandFamilies

In 2023, more than 1/4 of U.S. children lived in immigrant families, most born here in the U.S. When families face detention or deportation, children’s health, safety, & learning are deeply affected. Learn more: https://cep.asu.edu/resources/ImpactsofFamilySeparationandDeportation

Family detention/separation is linked to mental health harm in kids. A study following separated families found nearly all kids met clinical criteria for PTSD, depression, or anxiety. These impacts don’t disappear when families are released. Learn more: cep.asu.edu/the-scars-of...

The CEP will be releasing a new report soon on the policy landscape impacting unaccompanied migrant children. Stay tuned on social media and our website, and subscribe to our email list to be among the first to view. Learn more: cep.asu.edu #unaccompaniedchildren #immigration #familyseparation

Research finds that #children in #communities affected by #deportations experience increased absenteeism, lower academic performance, higher grade retention, & a greater risk of school dropout. 📊 See what the research shows here: cep.asu.edu/resource...

When a parent is detained or deported, household income can fall by 45–70%, pushing hundreds of thousands of U.S.-citizen children into poverty and increasing food insecurity, housing instability, & worse health/educational outcomes for kids. Learn more: cep.asu.edu/resource...

📊 Research shows that fear of deportation and family separation can lead to high stress in young children—disrupting sleep, eating, behavior, and emotional regulation. 🔗 Read the full findings: cep.asu.edu/resource...

No amount of time in detention is safe for children. Since #familydetentionfacilities reopened last year, more than 3,800 children have been #detained. Many are being detained far longer than the law allows. Learn more in our latest report: cep.asu.edu/the-scar...

Family detention/separation is linked to #mentalhealth harm in kids, including anxiety, depression, PTSD, sleep disruption, & suicidal ideation. One study found that nearly all children met clinical criteria for PTSD, depression, or anxiety. Learn more: cep.asu.edu/the-scar...

#Familydetention is not safe for #kids. Many reports show inadequate medical care, confiscated medications, & untreated conditions in #familydetentionfacilities. #Detentionsettings are not designed for kids & pose a risk to their health. Learn more: cep.asu.edu/the-scars-of...

#Familydetention & separation is linked to serious #mentalhealthharm in kids, including anxiety, depression, PTSD, sleep disruption, developmental regression, & suicidal ideation. This trauma persists for years, affecting long-term wellbeing. Learn more: cep.asu.edu/the-scars-of...

Data shows a steep jump in detained kids the past few months, & experts warn that detention environments w/ inadequate health, nutrition, & developmental supports, limited freedom, & separation from families can cause trauma & psychological harm. More: www.kjzz.org/the-show/202...

Last week, we held our annual CEP retreat where our team came together to strategically plan for 2026. We spent time together, strengthened bonds, and discussed how we’ll continue this crucial work moving forward for young learners nationwide. #ChildrensEquityProject

Kids in U.S. ICE custody jumped from 425 to 1,304 in just a few months — nearly 3x. This policy shift causes more children to experience trauma. More detention = more exposure to stress, health & psychological risk, & trauma for children. Learn more: www.kjzz.org/the-show/202...

Family detention is not required by any law. It is a choice. Detaining children in jail-like facilities for any amount of time poses a severe threat to children’s physical health, mental health, development, & wellbeing in the short/long term. Learn more: cep.asu.edu/the-scars-of...

Many other reports document inadequate medical care, confiscated medications, & untreated chronic conditions in family detention facilities. And tragically, since 2018, at least 12 children have died in US immigration custody. Learn more in our report: cep.asu.edu/the-scars-of...

Detaining children in jail-like facilities for any amount of time poses a severe threat to children’s physical health, mental health, development, & wellbeing - in the short & long term. Learn more in our latest report: cep.asu.edu/the-scars-of...

Family detention & separation are linked to serious mental health harm in children. One study following separated families found that nearly all children met clinical criteria for PTSD, depression, or anxiety disorders. Learn more in our latest report: cep.asu.edu/the-scars-of...

Detaining children in jail-like facilities for any amount of time poses a severe threat to children’s physical health, mental health, development, & wellbeing - in the short & long term. Learn more in our latest report: cep.asu.edu/the-scars-of...

Fear of deportation & family separation can lead to high stress in young kids—disrupting sleep, eating, behavior, & emotional regulation. Studies find increased anxiety, depression, & trauma-related behaviors among kids in immigrant families. Learn more: cep.asu.edu/resources/Su...

When a parent is detained or deported, household income can drop by up to 45–70%, pushing many U.S.-citizen children into poverty. These shocks are linked to food insecurity, housing instability, & worse health & educational outcomes for kids. Learn more: cep.asu.edu/resources/Im...

📉 Evidence shows that deportation & family separation are associated with higher risks of anxiety, depression, & post-traumatic stress in children—often showing up as behavioral challenges in early learning settings. 🔗 Explore the research: cep.asu.edu/resources/Su...

Kids as young as age 3 are aware of the threat of deportation. This constant fear is linked to chronic stress, emotional withdrawal, aggression, & developmental regression. Immigration policies shape kids' mental health for many years to come. Learn more: cep.asu.edu/resources/Su...

Studies in our report find that fear of deportation/family separation can lead to high stress in young kids—disrupting sleep, eating, behavior, & emotional regulation. Learn more: cep.asu.edu/resources/Su...

Research finds that kids in communities affected by deportations experience increased absenteeism, lower academic performance, higher grade retention, & a greater risk of school dropout—even when their own families are not directly deported. 📊Learn more: cep.asu.edu/resources/Im...

About 84% of people who use TANF have children. Supporting things like food, diapers, housing, child care, & transportation. Freezing funds to 1.4m families causes economic instability, putting kids in danger. Learn more: assets.aecf.org/m/resourcedo... firstfocus.org/wp-content/u...

When #childcare dollars are cut off, kids lose access to the care, learning, & daily routines they depend on. 300,000+ kids are already at risk of being impacted by funding freezes in 5 states. Nationwide, 1.4m children rely on child care. Learn more: cep.asu.edu/resources/He...

This season, we celebrate the power of research, policy, & practice working together to close opportunity gaps & create just, inclusive systems where all kids can thrive. We look forward to continuing this important work in the year ahead. 📚 Subscribe: cep.asu.edu

We released our 2025 newsletter today! Check it out below to learn everything we've been up to this year. Read full newsletter here: mailchi.mp/asu/the-cep-...

🚨Newsletter alert!🚨 Stay tuned for our newsletter release tomorrow morning! Subscribe to the CEP to be one of the first readers to gain access to exclusive content, releases, and much more. Subscribe: cep.asu.edu

Children deserve consistent, well-resourced civil rights protections. OCR at ED plays a central role in ensuring those protections. 📘 Learn more: cep.asu.edu/resources/Sa...

Want to keep up with the latest in early childhood research, data, and policy? ✨ Join the Children’s Equity Project email list and be one of the first to read our December newsletter! 🔔 Sign up: cep.asu.edu

Guaranteeing students’ #civilrights depends on data & enforcement. Using that data to ensure enforcement of civil rights requires enough staff to review each case. Because kids deserve education free from discrimination. 📚 Learn more about the federal role here: cep.asu.edu/resources/Ad...

Want to keep up with the latest in early childhood research, data, and policy? ✨ Join the Children’s Equity Project email list! 🔔 Sign up: cep.asu.edu

Fixing inequities in #specialeducation requires knowing where they exist. That’s why data is essential—it’s also required by law. Helping identify racial disparities in identification, placement, & discipline so states & districts can act. Learn more: cep.asu.edu/resources/ID...

The Children’s Equity Project shares research, policy analysis, and data tools to build a more just future for all of our children. 👶🏽📚 📩 Get updates straight to your inbox—subscribe today: https://cep.asu.edu/

When #HeadStart programs close down, even temporarily, critical resources that communities, families, & kids count on - including child care so low-income parents can work & early learning & nutritious meals for kids - are in jeopardy. Learn more: cep.asu.edu/resource...

#IDEA is a landmark law that has advanced major progress in equal education opportunity. But research shows gaps still exist. We need to maintain & strengthen data, fair enforcement, & uphold the rights of #students with #disabilities. Learn more: cep.asu.edu/resources/ID...

Significant disproportionality data is a critical #civilrights enforcement tool. Without it, we can’t see where disparities in #specialeducation exist—or how to fix them. 🔨📉 Ending data collection doesn’t solve inequities; it buries them. Learn more: cep.asu.edu/resource...

Every child—regardless of race, language, ability, income, or immigration status—has the right to a quality education. Our report provides concrete recs for states to double down on children’s civil rights & protect every child’s future. Learn more: cep.asu.edu/resource...

🚨 New Report Release! 🚨 📘✨ #IDEA is a landmark #civilrights law for students with #disabilities. But in 2025, data shows inequities persist—especially for Black, AI/AN, Hispanic/Latino, and other students of color. 📊 Learn more: cep.asu.edu/resource...

🚨#IDEA is one of the most important #civilrights laws—guaranteeing every kid w/ a disability the right to a free, appropriate education. But children of color w/ disabilities face later identification, more segregation, & harsher discipline. Learn more: cep.asu.edu/resource...

🚨 #NewReport! 🚨 ⚖️ Significant disproportionality is a #civilrights safeguard. It tells us where systems may be treating students with disabilities unfairly—and where action is needed. Ending data collection means ending transparency and accountability. 🚫 Learn more: cep.asu.edu/resource...