In 2025, the Chicago Early Childhood Integrated Data System (CECIDS) partnered with NORC at the University of Chicago to revisit questions about Chicago’s priority early childhood population and enrollment. We found that many technical “use cases” were standing in for deeper policy and program information needs, particularly around access, enrollment, workforce gaps, and kindergarten readiness. The resulting briefs clarify actionable short-term data gaps, identify longer-term research opportunities, and offer a replicable process for keeping mature integrated data systems aligned with real decision-making.

Use the buttons to read the process brief, the findings brief, and the toolkit, or view all three briefs together in the PDF below.