Learning Opportunities Early and Often: Longitudinal Findings from the Study of Early Child Care and Youth Development

July 16, 2026 12:00 PM Eastern

"Longitudinal datasets like the Study of Early Child Care and Youth Development (SECCYD) are uniquely powerful tools for educational and child development researchers who study STEM education and learning. With 26 years of data, the SECCYD follows a large cohort of children from birth, providing rich assessments of cognitive, social, emotional, and relational development, as well as the quality of the environments in which children grow—including their homes, early education settings, schools, afterschool programs, and communities.

"Drawing on their multiyear collaboration, Andres Bustamante, Eric Dearing, and Deborah Vandell will demonstrate how the SECCYD can be leveraged to uncover new insights into the impact of developmental and educational opportunities across childhood and adolescence. They will discuss their work, the evolution of their collaboration, and practical guidance for accessing and using the SECCYD.

"Attendees will gain an understanding of how the researchers:

• Identified and accessed the SECCYD data rather than other longitudinal datasets
• Selected variables and analytic approaches to address their research questions in STEM education and learning
• Sustained and expanded their research collaboration over time

"This workshop is designed for graduate students and early career researchers seeking to strengthen their understanding of the research process, as well as scholars interested in using SECCYD data to support STEM education research."

Instructors (bios here [PDF]):
Andres Bustamante, University of California, Irvine
Eric Dearing, Boston College
Deborah Vandell, University of California, Irvine

Register for the webinar on Zoom