What is the
EXCHANGE?
The Early Childhood Exchange (ECX) is a partnership among three founding organizations– the Rennie Center for Education Research & Policy, Strategies for Children, and the Massachusetts Early Childhood Policy Research Collaborative – each leveraging its expertise to ensure Massachusetts state leaders have the research and evidence needed to inform policymaking.
Together, we provide a unified knowledge base customized for the Massachusetts context. With these three partners leveraging their collective capacity, policy decisions in the state legislature and government agencies will be better informed by evidence, ultimately improving outcomes for the Commonwealth’s youngest children and their families.
The Rennie Center’s mission is to improve public education through well-informed decision-making based on deep knowledge and evidence of effective policymaking and practice. As Massachusetts’ preeminent voice in public education reform, we create open spaces for educators and policymakers to consider evidence, discuss cutting-edge issues, and develop new approaches to advance student learning and achievement.
Strategies for Children leads the way towards meaningful change in early childhood systems across Massachusetts by connecting people to people, people to policy, and people to power. For close to 25 years, Strategies for Children has been the lead advocate in the Commonwealth supporting young children, families, and educators. They advance systemic change in early childhood through policy development, cross-sectoral advocacy, and implementation strategies.
The Massachusetts Early Childhood Policy Research Collaborative (MA ECPRC) is a cross-sector network of researchers, data analysts, practitioners, policymakers, funders, and advocates dedicated to advancing equity in early childhood through research. The Collaborative promotes community-centered, co-constructed, and strengths-based research that reflects the humanity, expertise, and assets of the communities it serves. It champions inclusive and equitable engagement with research, data, and design processes by sharing power and ensuring historically underrepresented voices help shape inquiry, policy, and practice. Through accessible, action-oriented communication, the Collaborative translates research into clear, practical insights that inform decision-making and contribute to meaningful improvements in outcomes for young children and families.
ECX is facilitated by Jill Souza Norton, of Clark Street Consulting, who provides support to members in agenda setting, decision making and liaising to funders.
“Advocates have always known that connecting people to power is how policy changes. Now, with the Early Childhood Exchange, we can do that with the full force of research behind us. When a legislator asks what the evidence says about a program or a funding decision, we will have a real answer — fast, credible, and actionable. That is a game-changer for early childhood in Massachusetts.”
– Amy O’Leary, Executive Director, Strategies for Children