NICHD Study of Early Child Care and Youth Development, Phase 3

The National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) Study of Early Child Care and Youth Development is a national longitudinal research project, conducted at 10 research sites, that has examined the child care, family, and school experiences of 1,300 children since their birth in 1991. Phase I of the study followed children from birth to three years of age; Phase II followed children from three years through second grade. Data from Phases I and II currently are being analyzed and published (see http://public.rti.org/secc for more information). Phase III is following children from third grade through seventh grade. Phases II and III allow the project to examine four areas of interest: duration of effects, plasticity of development, the importance of transitions, and processes that account for observed effects.