Margaret R. Burchinal

Margaret R. Burchinal is a Research Professor at the University of Virginia’s School of Education and Human Development, affiliated with the Department of Education Leadership, Foundations & Policy and the Center for Advanced Study of Teaching and Learning. She specializes in child care research, applied statistics, and early childhood education policy.

• Education: Ph.D. (1986), M.A. (1978) from University of North Carolina Chapel Hill; B.S. (1976) from Iowa State University.

Her research focuses on the long-term effects of early childhood education, quality improvement in childcare systems, and statistical methodologies in developmental studies. She leads major projects like the IES Early Childhood Network study and the Abecedarian Project adult follow-up. Her work spans evaluations of state pre-K programs, Quality Rating and Improvement Systems (QRIS), and Head Start initiatives.

Burchinal has authored over 150 peer-reviewed articles in journals such as Child Development and Science, and serves on editorial boards and national committees, including the National Academy of Sciences and AERA Research Board. She is a board member of the W.T. Grant Foundation and advises the LEGO Foundation’s playful learning initiatives.

Her grants include funding for testing active play-based learning strategies and studying pre-K to third-grade transitions in Fairfax County. She collaborates extensively with interdisciplinary teams and policy stakeholders to bridge research and practice in early education.