Early Childhood

The Taub Center’s Initiative on Early Childhood Development and Inequality is tasked with examining the effects of the young child’s environment on future achievements and disseminating the latest research on this subject. The Initiative’s goal is to assist

in the advancement of effective policy to improve the environmental conditions of children in Israel during their early years of life, in order to improve their outcomes and reduce disparities due to socioeconomic background. The researchers involved

in this initiative draft up-to-date research reports, literature surveys, position papers, and policy papers. As part of its effort to disseminate the latest available knowledge, the Initiative holds an academic seminar to provide a multidisciplinary basis — both

theoretical and empirical — for the investigation of early childhood. The activity of the Initiative is guided by an International Advisory Council consisting of leading academics, policy makers and members of civil society organizations who are

committed to the advancement and implementation of effective policy in the area of early childhood in Israel. The activities of the Initiative are supported by the Bernard van Leer Foundation, the Beracha Foundation, Yad Hanadiv and the Shashua Family Foundation.

The Initiative is headed by Prof. Yossi Shavit, Principal Researcher, Taub Center for Social Policy Studies in Israel; Professor Emeritus, Tel Aviv University

Research staff: Dr. Carmel Blank, Dr. Yael Navon, Dana Shay