What It Takes to Build Early Learning Systems That Support All Children

In 2014, the David and Lucile Packard Foundation launched Starting Smart and Strong, a ten-year, place-based initiative to strengthen early learning in three California communities: Oakland, Fresno, and the Franklin-McKinley School District in East San Jose. In each community, a range of partners came together to address inequities in early childhood experiences, professional development for early educators, and kindergarten readiness. To do this, each community took its own path: Oakland shifted power to families and providers through a shared, equity-centered table, Fresno brought agencies together around supporting dual language learners, and Franklin-McKinley embedded whole-child, trauma-informed practices across the district.

Engage R+D served as the Foundation's developmental evaluation partner for the decade-long initiative, using an adaptive approach that evolved to embed equity and position community leaders as the primary users of evaluation and learning. This page brings together the products from that partnership, including interim evaluation reports, culminating case studies, and companion memos.