Early Ed in the Age of COVID-19

Written by: and
Written by: Meghan McCann and Siri Smillie
April 20, 2020

Research tells us that a child’s experiences in the early years build a foundation of social, emotional and cognitive development that they will need to enter kindergarten ready to learn. For most children in the U.S., who spend an average of 25 hours per week in nonparental care, much of this growth and development is nurtured by the early childhood workforce, including child care workers, preschool teachers and aides.

Author profile

Siri Smillie

Siri Smillie

Director of Policy at Education Commission of the States | ssmillie@ecs.org

As director of policy, Siri supports Education Commission of the States’ policy research and analysis work by providing strategic leadership and engaging with partners and stakeholders. Siri has more than 10 years of experience in state policy, including serving as the governor’s education policy advisor in Montana. Siri is dedicated to providing actionable resources and information to state leaders because she believes that equitable access to educational opportunities is fundamental for individuals and communities to thrive.

About Us

At Education Commission of the States, we believe in the power of learning from experience. Every day, we provide education leaders with unbiased information and opportunities for collaboration. We do this because we know that informed policymakers create better education policy.

Copyright 2024 / Education Commission of the States. All rights reserved.

chevron-downarrow-rightmenu-circlecross-circle