About Learning Frontiers

What is Learning Frontiers: Pre-K to third grade?

Learning Frontiers is a study that involves learning about the factors that promote early learning and development in children as they develop from preschool to third grade.
Nebraska was selected to be one of five sites in the US to be part of a national network that will explore early learning in early childhood education programs and schools located in rural and urban areas all across the country. To learn more about the network click here.
Three studies comprise the Learning Frontiers project: one addressing policies, one addressing classroom experiences and one addressing transitions from preschool through third grade.
Listen to a short interview with Sue Sheridan on NET Radio about Learning Frontiers and The Early Learning Network. Listen Here

We know that high-quality early childhood programs are key to children’s healthy development, and that experiences in kindergarten through third grade are important at furthering learning beyond preschool.
This study will help us learn how factors within the community, home and school support the development of young children from preschool to third grade.
The information collected from children, parents, teachers and schools will be used to improve practices and policies that will support children’s healthy development.

A few children from several early childhood programs and early elementary classrooms all across Nebraska will participate as they transition from preschool into kindergarten and first, second and third grade.

The research will take place over a five-year period, starting in June 2016. The timeline for each of the three studies is variable across the five-year period.

University of Nebraska researchers (Nebraska Center for Research on Children, Youth, Families and Schools; Buffett Early Childhood Institute; and Nebraska Public Policy Center) are responsible for the implementation of the studies.

Partnerships with educational stakeholders is essential for this project to be successful. All studies will require the involvement of schools, teachers and parents.