The Children's Equity Project
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childrensequity.bsky.social
The Children's Equity Project
@childrensequity.bsky.social
Closing opportunity gaps and advancing equity in all of the systems that impact the lives of children and families.
https://linktr.ee/childrensequityproject
🚨 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...
November 20, 2025 at 6:00 PM
🚨#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...
November 20, 2025 at 12:00 AM
🚨 #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...
November 19, 2025 at 8:35 PM
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...
November 18, 2025 at 5:59 PM
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...
November 17, 2025 at 6:18 PM
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...

#EarlyChildhood
November 17, 2025 at 2:46 PM
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...
November 15, 2025 at 1:44 AM
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...
November 10, 2025 at 8:01 PM
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
November 10, 2025 at 7:55 PM
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...
November 6, 2025 at 6:28 PM
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/...
November 4, 2025 at 4:43 PM
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/...
November 3, 2025 at 11:25 PM
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...
October 31, 2025 at 11:57 PM
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...
October 31, 2025 at 12:06 AM
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...
October 30, 2025 at 6:10 PM
🌍 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...

#EarlyLearningMatters
October 30, 2025 at 12:02 AM
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...
October 29, 2025 at 6:46 PM
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...
October 29, 2025 at 1:42 PM
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!
October 28, 2025 at 7:06 PM
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...
October 28, 2025 at 5:45 PM
🚀 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...
October 28, 2025 at 3:22 AM
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...
October 27, 2025 at 10:28 PM
#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...
October 27, 2025 at 4:07 PM
#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...

#SpecialEducation #EdPolicy
October 25, 2025 at 1:05 AM
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...
October 24, 2025 at 6:58 PM