What is theÂ
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.
Representatives from the Rennie Center, Strategies for Children, The Collaborative, and partners across the early childhood field at the Spring 2026 Early Childhood Summit.
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.
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.Â
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.Â
The Massachusetts Early Childhood Policy Research Collaborative (MA ECPRC) is a cross-sector network of researchers, data analysts, designers, practitioners, and public servants dedicated to advancing equity in early childhood through research. Together, members of the Collaborative promote community-centered, co-constructed, and strengths-based research; champion inclusive and equitable engagement with research, data, and design projects; and support accessible and action-oriented communication of research findings.
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.
our supporters
ECX is made possible through the generous support of a collaborative group of funders that includes the Commonwealth Children’s Fund, the Eastern Bank Foundation, The Boston Foundation, and the Irene E. & George A. Davis Foundation. Their shared commitment to strengthening early childhood research and policymaking is advancing a more strategic, coordinated approach to identifying and addressing the field’s most pressing needs.
By investing in ECX collectively, these funders are supporting the shared capacity of its three member organizations to produce consistent, high-quality research, amplify its impact, and better meet the needs of the early childhood sector.
