The INQUIRE  Data Toolkit 2023 Update provides tools to support data collection and the use of data to answer child care and early education (CCEE) policy questions and fulfill reporting requirements. Originally produced in 2013, the 2023 update expands the focus of the original toolkit on CCEE quality initiatives to include CCEE access, the workforce, and stabilization of CCEE programs in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. The toolkit provides policy questions and standardized data elements that can be used for monitoring; engaging in continuous program improvement; reporting; evaluating CCEE activities at the state, regional, and local levels; and conducting data needs assessments and data collection planning.

The Toolkit is intended to be illustrative and not exhaustive of all possible questions and analyses of interest.

Purpose

High-quality data can assist state and other decision makers in their efforts to understand the CCEE landscape and continuously improve their CCEE systems. States, federal funders, and researchers also benefit when data are collected uniformly across states. Cross-state analyses using common data elements can build the evidence base for understanding which initiatives and conditions are effective for improving CCEE and the health and well-being of the CCEE workforce, families, and children.

The INQUIRE Data Toolkit 2023 Update supports state and local efforts to build a strong data infrastructure that informs 1) the completion of reports on the use of federal funds, 2) the collection and analysis of data to answer policy questions, 3) the development of new data elements and sources, and 4) regular sharing of data with constituents and the CCEE system.

The audience for the Toolkit includes, but is not limited to, (1) state, county, territory, or other local administrators of CCEE programs and initiatives such as quality improvement initiatives, CCEE workforce initiatives, and efforts to support equitable access to CCEE that supports the unique needs of children and families; (2) researchers and evaluators examining CCEE systems; and 3) technical architects and analysts responsible for developing CCEE data systems and for analyzing the data housed in those systems.

Methods

The INQUIRE Data Toolkit research team systematically reviewed and updated the 2013 toolkit to be relevant for the 2023 policy context and reporting requirements.

1. Researchers reviewed changes to federal reporting requirements and identified data needed to address those changes.
2. Existing data elements from the 2013 toolkit were linked (or unlinked) to each federal report through “tags” in the Dictionary of Common Data Elements. New data elements were created to address gaps revealed in the Dictionary by new reporting requirements or other data collection requirements.
3. The Linkages Questions were updated and expanded based on reviews of reports on CCEE access, quality, the COVID-19 pandemic and how it affected CCEE programs and the workforce, and equity in CCEE (and intersections across these topics).
4. State data experts and technical assistance providers offered input and recommendations on the toolkit features, usability, and content.
5. The web-based platform for the toolkit was updated to reflect the multiple additions and refinements to the Linkages Questions and Dictionary of Common Data Elements.

Recommendations

The INQURE Data Toolkit 2023 Update can support data needs assessments in states and communities and inform improvements to CCEE data infrastructure. The steps in a data needs assessment include:

 

• Identifying high-priority CCEE questions to inform decisions in the state/locality. The Linkages Guide can support this strategic planning and selection of questions.
• Identifying data elements to address key questions. The Dictionary of Common Data Elements can help clarify the specific data elements needed, their source (e.g., whether they are part of an existing administrative database), and how they can be used in analyses.
• Specifying data gaps. The process of linking questions to data elements may reveal gaps in existing data. Discuss which data gaps can be filled with new administrative data elements or periodic data collections.
• Assessing data quality. Speak with data managers to understand the strengths and areas of concern in existing data.
• Developing a plan for improvements. Summarize the findings from the data needs assessment to set an agenda for the next steps in improving the CCEE data