📉 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...

Data clearly shows that millions of kids still face barriers associated w/ their race, language, disability, gender, income, or immigration status. Our new report calls on states to protect kids from discrimination & uphold equal opportunity. Learn more: cep.asu.edu/resource...

States have a variety of policy tools to strengthen #civilrights infrastructure & protect children’s civil & human rights. Our latest report examines these & other state/local strategies to safeguard the civil rights of #children. 📖 Read it here: cep.asu.edu/resource...

This research-informed brief offers practical guidance for #earlycare and ed programs - leaders, providers, #mentalhealth coaches, and more on establishing a healthy mental health climate in the current context. 💡 Learn more: cep.asu.edu/resource...#earlycare#mentalhealth#EarlyChildhood

Research shows family separation leads to: 1️⃣Mental health challenges 2️⃣ Financial hardship, housing instability & food insecurity 3️⃣ Disruption of critical caregiver bonds 4️⃣ Academic decline Read more here: cep.asu.edu/resource...

👧🏽👦🏽 1 in 4 U.S. children lived in immigrant families in 2023. That’s 17.9 million children—& 86% of them were born in the U.S. When families are separated by immigration enforcement, kids' health, development, education, & financial stability are impacted. Learn more: cep.asu.edu/resource...

It is more important than ever to intentionally foster a mental health climate that is responsive to children’s & staff’s needs. This brief has recs to support children & the adults who love & care for them in early care & learning programs. cep.asu.edu/resource...

Children witnessing a caregiver violently detained can cause trauma & impact wellbeing. This brief reviews the research on the wide-ranging impacts of caregiver separation on children. cep.asu.edu/resource... #FamilySeparation #DeportationImpact #ChildWellbeing #ChildDevelopment

The CEPs Dr. Shantel Meek participated in a radio interview w/ KJZZ earlier this week where she discussed the impact of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Head Start on children in Arizona. Listen to the full interview here 👉

As of 11/6, 20 HS programs in 17 states & Puerto Rico have had to close their doors. Leaving nearly 10,000 children/families w/out access to the care, early learning, nutrition, & stability HS provides. Learn more: nhsa.app.box.com/s/9...

As of Nov 1, the NHSA shows 140 HS programs are operating w/out #federalfunding & are facing possible closure due to a lack of funds. Affecting 22,432 HS staff across the country. If uncertainty continues, more HS programs will be impacted. Learn more: nhsa.org/about-nhsa/...

According to the NHSA, as of Nov 1, 140 #HeadStart (HS) programs across 41 states & Puerto Rico, serving 64,907 kids, are operating w/out federal funding & are facing closure due to a lack of funds. If uncertainty continues, more HS programs will be impacted. Learn more: nhsa.org/about-nhsa/...

IECMHC works. Research shows: ✅ Gains in children’s social-emotional skills ✅ Fewer challenging behaviors ✅ More positive teacher–child interactions ✅ Reduced suspension & expulsion rates This is prevention that changes trajectories. Learn more: cep.asu.edu/resource...

In 2023, over 3.3M kids under age 5 lived at or below the federal poverty line. #HeadStart (HS) plays a big role in reaching those children. This is especially true in rural areas where HS is the only or one of the only early learning centers. Learn more: cep.asu.edu/resource...

States are turning to legislation to expand #IECMHC—a powerful strategy proven to reduce suspensions, expulsions, & challenging behaviors in early learning. This brief scans 33 IECMHC-specific bills across 13 states & shows what’s working. Learn more: cep.asu.edu/resource...

🌍 The U.S. lags behind other nations in early education access—#HeadStart helps close the gap by serving 800,000 low-income children annually. A lapse in funding means thousands of these kids may lose services. Learn more: cep.asu.edu/resource...#HeadStart #EarlyLearningMatters

Over the past decade, states have expanded #IECMHC—but many face major funding gaps, especially as federal supports are threatened. This new brief highlights how state legislation can create stable, high-quality, and accessible IECMHC systems. Learn more: cep.asu.edu/resource...

Since 1965, Head Start has served nearly 40M children nationwide—building a foundation in learning, health, & nutrition for children in every zip code across the nation. A lapse in funding means thousands lose #earlylearning opportunities. Learn more: cep.asu.edu/resource...

The CEP's Dr. Shantel Meek will join First Focus on Children at their Children’s Budget Summit 2025 on Thursday, 10/30, to unpack this year’s Children’s Budget. Learn more and register now: lnkd.in/dhr95y7Z!

Across the country, #IECMHC is helping young children thrive. Research shows IECMHC improves social-emotional skills, reduces challenging behaviors, and is linked to lower suspension and expulsion rates in early learning programs. Learn more: cep.asu.edu/resource...

🚀 The CEP's latest report provides an overview of the #IECMHC legislation landscape, including examples of the types of bills that states have passed, and common themes and trends. Learn more: cep.asu.edu/resource...

In an analysis of 10 states in 2018, Head Start programs represented ⅓ of ALL rural child care centers, and of those 10 states, 48 rural counties in them would have 0 child care options without Head Start. Learn more: cep.asu.edu/resource...

#OSEP helps #IDEA work for the more than 8 million #children & #youth it serves—funding states, monitoring compliance, collecting vital data, & supporting research. Our new brief highlights how OSEP’s role safeguards children’s rights. Learn more: cep.asu.edu/resource...

#IDEA isn’t just education policy—it’s a #civilrights law. And civil rights laws require uniform application and enforcement. Learn more about IDEA, how it's administered, and its impact on #students with #disabilities 👉 cep.asu.edu/resource...#IDEA#civilrights#students#disabilities#SpecialEducation #EdPolicy

Hundreds of thousands of kids in low-income households rely on #HeadStart meals. From 2021–23, 17% of youth under 18 (12.1M) lived in food-insecure households & food insecurity in homes w kids under 6 rose from 16.7% in 2022 to 17.9% in 2023 Learn more: cep.asu.edu/resource...

The CEP's Dr. Shantel Meek will join First Focus on Children at their Children’s Budget Summit 2025 on Thursday, 10/30, to unpack this year’s Children’s Budget. Learn more and register now: lnkd.in/dhr95y7Z!

In 2023: 👶30,677 infants/toddlers w disabilities were enrolled in #EarlyHeadStart w Individual Family Service Plans. 🎒 80,796 preschoolers receiving Part B, Section 619 #specialeducation services were enrolled in Head Start. Learn more: cep.asu.edu/resource...

Over $15b in federal dollars went to all 50 states/territories to support #earlyintervention & #specialeducation services for children/youth w disabilities last year. OSEP’s role in dispersing #IDEA services/funding is essential to our youth. Learn more: cep.asu.edu/resource...

A lapse in #HeadStart funding could impact thousands of children. Head Start has an especially big footprint in rural communities, where few - if any - other options for early learning & #childcare exist, widening the child care supply gap. Learn more: cep.asu.edu/resource...