Sharon L Kagan

Sharon L Kagan is the Virginia and Leonard Marx Professor of Early Childhood and Family Policy and Co-Director of the National Center for Children and Families at Teachers College, Columbia University. She holds adjunct positions at Yale University and is a globally recognized leader in early childhood education policy and systems reform. Her work focuses on aligning educational policies to support low-income children and families, integrating research into public policy, and promoting systemic coherence in early childhood systems.

Education:

• B.A., University of Michigan (English)
• M.A., Johns Hopkins University (Liberal Arts)
• Ed.D., Teachers College (Curriculum and Teaching)

Research Interests: Dr. Kagan applies child and parent development research to inform public policy, emphasizing systemic governance, cultural diversity in education, and global early learning standards. She advocates for high-quality, equitable early childhood systems aligned with K-12 education.

Awards:

• Harold W. McGraw, Jr. Prize in Education
• James Bryant Conant Award (2005)
• Fellow, American Educational Research Association (2010)
• Member, National Academy of Education (2012)

Advising & Grants: She advises governments globally, including Colombia and Tajikistan, on early childhood policies. Her research has been funded by organizations like the Kellogg Foundation and UNICEF, focusing on system alignment, workforce development, and quality measurement.

Labs/Teams: Co-directs the National Center for Children and Families, leading initiatives on early childhood governance, transition policies, and international standards development.