Early childhood education (ECE) program evaluation has been actively pursued to enhance program quality and promote children’s developmental outcomes. Evaluation data, along with other public data resources, are utilized to examine the effectiveness of programs through an ecological theoretical framework. These efforts particularly focus on children from disadvantaged families, aiming to support them and provide more equitable opportunities during early stages of life.

Dr. Shinyoung Jeon has led multiple projects using data from national and local Head Start evaluations, public schools, and census sources. Her work emphasizes partnerships with educational agencies to strengthen research-practice collaboration. Additionally, her research highlights specific groups of children, such as dual language learners, whose early experiences in the U.S. may differ significantly from their peers. These projects align with her research team’s commitment to fostering inclusive, impactful research that bridges theory and practice.

Current projects

• More than a home: Investigating multilevel predictors of child care practices and workforce dynamic among listed home .
• Expanding and strengthening the childcare workforce in Missouri.
• Exploring variations among Head Start dual language learners: What factors predict different longitudinal developmental patterns.

Faculty lead: Shinyoung Jeon