Early Childhood and Education: Mobilizing Data and Research to Inform Public Policy Action

Organized in collaboration with the Quebec Interuniversity Centre for Social Statistics, the Université de Montréal’s House of Public and International Affairs, and the Observatory on Children’s Education and Health, this day of discussions highlighted several recent studies as well as high-potential datasets for analysis and public policy action.

Among the contributions presented, Catherine Haeck shared work based on the Quebec Children Database as well as research focusing in particular on ADHD, while Sylvana Côté addressed issues related to school readiness and maturity. These presentations notably emphasized the importance of intervening early in developmental trajectories, especially for children from multilingual backgrounds.

The discussions were also enriched by a keynote address from Alexandre Blanchet, Commissioner for Children’s Well-Being and Rights, who presented the priorities of the Office of the Commissioner for Children’s Well-Being and Rights regarding data mobilization, as well as the strategic role of scientific collaborations in supporting its work. For his part, Dominique Tambosso highlighted the challenges involved in translating scientific knowledge into professional practice and public policy.

Several other presentations explored key factors in children’s development, including the family environment, socio-emotional skills, and housing conditions. Structural issues were also addressed, such as boys’ under-schooling, investments in early childhood, and the role of early childhood centres (CPEs). These reflections were contributed by Laurie Charest, Abdel-Hamid Bello, Pierre-Loup Beauregard, Robert Lacroix, Nicolas Charette, Christa Japel, Laurence Bourgeois, and Philip Merrigan.

This day thus underscored the richness of the data available in Quebec and the importance of strengthening bridges between research and public policy action in order to support children’s development from the earliest years of life.

CIRANO warmly thanks all speakers and participants for the quality of the discussions and their contribution to this collective reflection.