Research & Data
PROMOTING DATA-DRIVEN PUBLIC POLICIES
The Center for Social Measurement and Evaluation (CSME) supports the research and evaluation efforts across all of
Center for Social Measurement and Evaluation
One in ten children in the U.S. is born in Texas. Providing 10% of our country’s population with a quality education is critically important to the future of our local, state, and national economies.
Primarily achieved through our Center for Social Measurement and Evaluation (CSME), CHILDREN AT RISK works to ensure all Texas children have access to quality education, so they have the skills necessary to thrive in our 21st-Century economy.
Through strategic partnerships, CHILDREN AT RISK researches trends, inequities, resources, and opportunities to improve public education. We use this research to educate policymakers and advocate for better education policies
The Center for Social Measurement and Evaluation (CSME) supports the research and evaluation efforts across all of
Data-Driven Community Advocacy Tools
CSME designs and disseminates data-based research tools including:
- Annual School Rankings
- School data for parents through TexasSchoolGuide.org
- Early education data and interactive maps
Research & Evaluation
CSME assesses the impact of policies and programs, resulting in evaluations including:
- Nonprofit program evaluation
- Corporate social investment reports
- Community health needs assessments
- Fiscal evaluations
Publications
CSME produces research-oriented publications including:
- Growing Up in Houston
- Growing Up in North Texas
- The Journal of Applied Research on Children
- The Journal of Family Strengths
Our Latest Research & Data Analysis
Increase Networking Opportunities for Child Care Providers
This post highlights a policy recommendation from our new report, The Quest for Equity and Quality Examining Provider Experiences and Participation in Texas Rising Star. This report, released 4/4/22, explores data from a statewide survey and focus groups in which...
2022 Kroger School Food Rankings
Across Texas, over 3.7 million students from low-income households qualify for free or reduced-price school meals through federal programs, such as the National School Lunch Program and the School Breakfast Program. For many of these children, meals eaten at school...
Allocate Additional Funding to Cover the Cost of Care and Provider Program Improvements
This post highlights a policy recommendation from our new report, The Quest for Equity and Quality Examining Provider Experiences and Participation in Texas Rising Star. This report, released 4/4/22, explores data from a statewide survey and focus groups in which...
Providing Equitable Supports and Mitigating Misconceptions for Providers
This post highlights a policy recommendation from our new report, The Quest for Equity and Quality Examining Provider Experiences and Participation in Texas Rising Star. This report, released 4/4/22, explores data from a statewide survey and focus groups in which...
The Quest for Equity & Quality |Research
Exposure to high-quality child care is the foundation for a child’s academic and social-emotional success, especially for children from low-income families. Increasing access to subsidized child care is one of the many strategies used to provide affordable early...
Include a Holistic Assessment Approach in Texas Rising Star
This post highlights a policy recommendation from our new report, The Quest for Equity and Quality Examining Provider Experiences and Participation in Texas Rising Star. This report, released 4/4/22, explores data from a statewide survey and focus groups in which...
Increase Investments in the ECE Workforce
This post highlights a policy recommendation from our new report, The Quest for Equity and Quality Examining Provider Experiences and Participation in Texas Rising Star. This report, released 4/4/22, explores data from a statewide survey and focus groups in which...
CHILDREN AT RISK & TXFLC host “A Fighting Chance: Summit on Basic Needs and Child Success”
Health leaders, researchers, and advocates gathered to explore the basic needs children need to thrive and the best practices we can implement to better support them. In today's uncertain world, it's more important than ever to make sure our children have everything...
Rest & Resilience | Securing Children’s Well-Being Through Sleep
Sleep is an essential ingredient in children’s long-term health and development, yet at least 1 in 3 US children are not getting enough. In the most recent National Survey of Children’s Health, nearly 35% of children (ages 4 months – 17) received less than the...
6 Evidenced-Based Sleep Tips for Families |Blog
Good sleep hygiene is critical to ensuring healthy sleep quality and preventing the onset of sleep disorders and other long-term health issues. Below are a few research-based tips for parents to help improve their child’s sleep and prevent bedtime resistance. 1. STICK...
The Social Determinates of Childhood Sleep |Blog
Sleep is incredibly important for the bodies and brains of children. More specifically, sleep allows for the brain to recharge and consolidate memories. For children specifically, sleep aids in the functions of the immune system as well as muscle growth and repair....
Accountability for Buyers in the Commercial Sex Market | Brief
Texas House Bill 1540 went into effect this September. The bill is a key component of the 'Texas Model' to combat commercial sex - and its associated harms including the fueling of sex trafficking - through strengthening buyer accountability. The bill makes...