Institute for Early Childhood Development & Education
About the Institute
The Texas A&M University Institute for Early Childhood Development & Education seeks to use leading, cutting-edge research to transform the lives of all young children and the adults who interact with them, including families, educators, clinicians, and health providers. We will solve complex issues in early childhood from various perspectives by generating rigorous research that informs practice and policy, mentoring the next generation of early childhood scholars and practitioners and leading outreach initiatives for early childhood practitioners across Texas and beyond.
Apply Today
Learn more about these programs and apply today:
Congratulations to Our TXAEYC Award Winners
Trainer of the Year: Dr. Julie Thompson
Her nominators stated, “Julie truly exemplifies the characteristics of a dedicated leader, teacher, and researcher. Her passion for her work is evident, and our community is fortunate to have her. I wholeheartedly recommend her for this well-deserved honor.”
Teacher of the Year: Khali Shaw
Khali Shaw, Lead Teacher at Becky Gates Children’s Center, has been named the TXAEYC Teacher of the Year, celebrating her passion, creativity, and unwavering commitment to nurturing young minds.
Her nominators stated, “Khali Shaw is an innovative and passionate early childhood educator who exemplifies developmentally appropriate practices and demonstrates a deep understanding of how young children learn best. She skillfully integrates child-led projects with core academic content, nurturing both curiosity and deep learning in her classroom.”
Research-based practices to help your learner
Explore our resource library, filled with research-based strategies, tools, and insights designed to support educators and families in fostering language, literacy, and meaningful learning experiences for children of all abilities.
Scope & Research
The scope of the Institute is wide-ranging, seeking to promote collaborative research on national, state, and community needs in advancing evidence-based solutions to improve educational, health, and life outcomes for all children from birth to age eight. Our faculty’s innovative and multidisciplinary approaches to research yield solutions to complex problems and enhance early childhood development and education.
Institute Goals
- Promote the development, learning and well-being of all young children and their families by leading innovative research-to-practice initiatives in early childhood.
- Compete for large-scale research funding to pursue our mission.
- Educate early childhood leaders, teachers and paraprofessionals in research and evidence-based practices.
- Enhance the quality of early childhood education across Texas.
- Rapidly disseminate rigorous research and professional learning.
- Provide quality research and practice opportunities for Aggies.
” Being a part of a team that helps push the field forward is something really, really exciting to me.
Aggie Opportunities
Institute faculty members collaborate with various disciplines, departments and colleges across Texas A&M University, including education, special education, psychology, public policy, agricultural economics, nursing and more. The Institute also partners with child care programs, schools and clinics, including the Becky Gates and Charlotte Sharp Children’s Centers. These connections support research-based practices that impact young children and their families.
The Institute offers research opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students, as well as post-doctoral fellows, allowing them to contribute to federally-funded projects sponsored by organizations such as the National Institutes of Health, the U.S. Department of Education and the National Science Foundation.
STEM Education Brought to the Brazos Valley (KBTX)
Events & Outreach
The Early Childhood Institute advances research and outreach to support young children’s development and learning. Our faculty collaborate across disciplines, securing federal funding to drive impactful studies that inform early education practices. We partner with educators, child care centers, and community organizations to translate research into meaningful classroom experiences. Students at all levels have opportunities to engage in cutting-edge research, gaining hands-on experience and mentorship from leading experts.
Apply to Conduct Research
The Texas A&M University Children’s Centers at Becky Gates and Charlotte Sharp are interested in engaging in research and instructional projects that enhance our knowledge of children’s development, evidence-based practices for early education and family engagement and effective teacher development that aligns with the goals and interests of the Children’s Centers and the mission of Texas A&M University.
Each research or instructional project is reviewed by the Children’s Centers Research Review Committee to ensure that the rights of children and families are protected and that the research or Instructional project is practical in our unique settings.