The Critical First Years: Turning Research into Policy

Join the Heller-Hurwicz Economics Institute for our spring roundtable, exploring what research says on child development and the outcomes of investing in early childhood. Our speakers will share insights from their research and advocacy to illustrate the challenges and opportunities facing our families, businesses, and community.

5:30-7:00 pm Roundtable Discussion, with audience Q&A
7:00-8:00 pm Reception for in-person guests, including poster session by HHEI undergraduate research assistants

• Ericca Maas, Executive Director, Close Gaps By 5. This Minnesota-based nonprofit is dedicated to using high quality early education programs to close and prevent achievement gaps. In her work leading the organization, Ericca works with partners and parents to advocate for increased funding. In her remarks, Ericca will describe some of the real-world tradeoffs and challenges for implementing change.
• Katherine Magnuson, Director of the Institute for Research on Poverty, University of Wisconsin-Madison. In her remarks, Katherine will share new findings from the Baby’s First Years study, a pathbreaking study of the impact of monthly, unconditional cash gifts to low-income mothers and their children in the first four years of the child’s life. An expert in social and behavioral science, Katherine's research focuses on the well-being and development of economically disadvantaged children and their families.
• Victor Ronda, Associate Director for Research at the Center for the Economics of Human Development, University of Chicago. Victor will share an overview of the original Perry Preschool Project and subsequent research showing longitudinal effects on the original participants, spillover effects on siblings, and intergenerational effects on children. Research in progress at Chicago's Center for the Economics of Human Development continues to examine the impact of interventions such as home visiting.
• Moderator Art Rolnick, Retired Senior Vice President and Director of Research, Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. An advocate for early childhood education, he serves on the boards of Way to Grow, Think Small, and the Northside Achievement Zone. ​​​

Ericca Maas

Katherine Magnuson

Victor Ronda

Art Rolnick