Current Work
Even though a “Festschrift” is traditionally held to announce the culmination of the most productive period of scholarship of the individual being honored, Ed Zigler has by no means reached the culmination of his life’s work! He continues as Director, Emeritus, of The Edward Zigler Center in Child Development and Social Policy, advising students and participating in the ongoing development of The School of the 21st Century education reform model. Ed also continues his research, writing, and consultation activities.
Ed recently completed a book describing the state pre-kindergarten movement and where he thinks it should be headed: A Vision for Universal Preschool Education. He also continues his interest in the Head Start program, conducting research, integrating the literature on early care and education, and making recommendations for the future. He has been working with policy makers and cabinet officials to design needed research, improve performance standards, expand enrollment (especially for infants and toddlers), and examine accountability measures. He has also been consulting with members of Congress and the Bush Administration about their plans to change the program’s administration and goals. He has continued to conceptualize a new role for Head Start when universal public preschool becomes a reality. For the past two years, he has been working with both Republican and Democratic members of Congress in the drafting of the Head Start Reauthorization Bill.
Ed is a member of numerous boards, including the Board of Directors for Parents As Teachers (PAT) and the Board of governors of the Smith Richardson Foundation. He is a member of the American Psychological Association, the American Psychological Society, the National Association for the Education of Young Children, and many other professional groups. Ed serves as a consultant to the Administration for Children and Families and the Administration on Children, Youth and Families. Ed continues to serve on the Advisory Board to the Committee on Head Start Research and Evaluation, for the Head Start Bureau, within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Recently, Zigler became a member of the National Pre-kindergarten Study Advisory Group, administered by Yale’s Child Study Center. Also, he became a member of Connecticut State Department of Education’s Preschool Education Advisory Committee.
Ed also contributes his expertise to publications comprising the scientific literature. He is an advisory board member of Applied Developmental Science: An Encyclopedia of Research, Policies and Programs (ADSE), and NHSA Dialogue: A Research-to-Practice Journal for the Early Intervention Field, National Head Start Association. He is a member of the editorial boards of the following publications: Child, Children and Youth Services Review, Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology, Parenting: Science and Practice, and Research in Developmental Disabilities.
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