Let’s get jazzed about early childhood data
- Feb 4
- 4 min read
Mardi Gras, Kids, and… Early Childhood Data? Why They Actually Go Together
It’s carnival time here in Louisiana! Mardi Gras (or Fat Tuesday) falls in mid-February this year, and you could say we’re pretty jazzed to celebrate.
But here’s something many folks outside Louisiana don’t realize: in our part of the state, Mardi Gras isn’t the commercialized, mass-production spectacle you see on TV. Here, Mardi Gras means kids. The floats, parades, and community events are built for families. Sure, Mardi Gras and children might seem like an unexpected combo but they’re a perfect match! The floats are colorful, the throws include stuffed animals and frisbees (not just beads), and what kid isn’t excited for a neighborhood brass band dance party?
And you know what else goes surprisingly well together?
Early childhood and data.
Now hear me out. I’m not suggesting you replace your senior data analyst with a cracker-munching toddler. But much of what we do in collecting, cleaning, and using educational data transfers beautifully to the early childhood space. And in Louisiana, this February brings an enormous data collection and analysis challenge for early childhood leaders.
The February 1 Child Count: Louisiana’s Big Early Childhood Data Moment
The first major challenge is the biannual early childhood child count. On February 1, every early childhood site in Louisiana must count each enrolled child by funding source, by age, and by quality rating.
It’s a logistical feat (and sometimes a headache) because Louisiana enforces some of the nation’s strictest student privacy laws. So how do sites share the necessary information with their community networks? And how do networks roll all that information up for state reporting without compromising privacy?
Different networks take different approaches:
Some conduct in-person counts
Some distribute standardized templates
Some rely on coordinated enrollment or child enrollment software
The strongest systems use a blended model
Networks generate initial reports from data systems
Sites verify, correct, or flag mismatches
Districts then update the source data once, not multiple times
This approach of fixing issues at the source instead of downstream is why Louisiana has some of the best early childhood data systems in the nation.
How Great Data Is Expanding Access to Early Childhood Education
High-quality data isn’t just a compliance exercise. It’s the engine behind strategic growth. Because Louisiana has invested in data hygiene and high-quality reporting:
Advocates can clearly communicate the statewide early childhood landscape
Funders understand where dollars will have the biggest impact
Matching funds (like those in the Early Childhood Education Fund) are being used strategically
The result? Many networks across Louisiana are expanding seats and increasing access in ways that simply weren’t possible a decade ago.
If you haven’t seen it, check out the Louisiana Policy Institute for Children’s dashboard. It’s a masterclass in how strong data storytelling supports smart investment.
How Child Count and Assessment Data Inform Super App Planning
These data don’t just sit in a report. They play a central role in Super App planning (see our last Dispatch for a breakdown of how consolidated funding works).
When networks write their early childhood blueprints, they dig deeply into:
Child count data (access and enrollment)
Classroom quality indicators
Community network metrics
Funding alignment opportunities
But access data is only half the picture.
Louisiana also collects child-level assessment data three times a year:
October 31
February 28
May 31
These assessments help networks understand children’s progress toward early literacy and numeracy benchmarks. The Louisiana Department of Education’s crosswalk between early learning and development standards and approved assessments is especially useful. I leaned on it heavily when coaching teachers.
Funding in Early Childhood: Why Braiding (Not Scrambling) Matters
There’s one more essential point from my years working with early childhood systems:
You will need to braid funding.The pre-K and ECE space lacks the coherent, unified funding structure seen in K–12.
But braiding funding is not the same thing as scattering funding.
Your blueprint must drive execution, not the other way around. Funding, like AI, is a great servant but a terrible master. It should support your strategic vision, not steer it.
So don’t chase every new funding stream that pops up! Align resources intentionally. Stay organized. And use your data to drive decisions, not the whims of the moment.
Final Thoughts: Early Childhood Is Joyful and Data Helps Make It Better
Early childhood is fun, joyful, and a little chaotic. Just like Mardi Gras! And data collection, done well, is a tangible way to expand access to high-quality learning for Louisiana’s youngest children.
But if you’re feeling overwhelmed by child count, assessment cycles, or funding alignment, you don’t have to tackle it alone.
Instructional Data Solutions offers tools and resources that support early childhood systems, including:
Data collection and reporting solutions
Explore more on our website—and let us know how we can help support your network.
About Instructional Data Solutions: Our mission is to remove barriers to enable education organizations to focus on what matters most. We assist school systems and education organizations of all sizes by collecting, analyzing, and clearly communicating data. We are committed to empowering educators through comprehensive data analytics and tailored support. Additionally, we provide dedicated support for operational needs, process improvement, and special projects, offering customized solutions to enhance effectiveness and success. Our solutions bridge the gap between data collection and instructional improvement in PK-12 settings.
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