Steven Barnett is Board of Governors Professor of Education and Founding Co-Director of NIEER at Rutgers University. Dr. Barnett is an economist, and his work focuses on ECE policies that significantly enhance the development and well-being of all young children, but especially those who are economically and socially disadvantaged.

Allison Friedman-Krauss is an Assistant Research Professor at NIEER where she is also the Associate Director for Policy Research and Director of the Infant and Toddler Policy Research Center. She uses her background in developmental psychology and quantitative analysis to conduct early childhood education research that informs policy change to improve experiences for children and families. Dr. Friedman-Krauss leads NIEER’s policy research team including producing NIEER’s annual State of Preschool Yearbook. Dr. Friedman-Krauss also authored NIEER’s reports on equity of access to (1) Early Head Start and Head Start and (2) Early Intervention and Early Intervention. Her research at NIEER focuses on three main areas: (1) early childhood education (ECE) policies, (2) children’s development within the context of ECE programs and policies, and (3) the ECE workforce. She earned her Ph.D. in Developmental Psychology from NYU's Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development