ACF's National Research Conference on Early Childhood 2026 (NRCEC 2026)
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ACF’s National Research Conference on Early Childhood 2026 (NRCEC 2026) will be held June 22—24, 2026, at the Crystal Gateway Marriott in Arlington, VA. Since 1991, the conference (formerly known as Head Start’s National Research Conference on Early Childhood) has highlighted cutting edge research on early childhood programs serving young children and their families.
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About
What is NRCEC all about?
Watch our video to learn about the goals and history of the conference!
Conference Goals
The goals of NRCEC are to:
- identify and disseminate research relevant to young children (birth to 8 years) and their families;
- encourage collaboration among researchers, practitioners, and policymakers to build evidence that informs policy and practice;
- and foster discussion of research priorities, gaps, and needs
ACF programs support the social and economic well-being of families, children, individuals, and communities. This includes investments in early childhood programs that promote economic security, health and safety, and positive developmental trajectories for young children and their families. Federal, state, and local governments make substantial investments to deliver high quality programs to young children and their families, and there is a robust and growing body of research to inform those investments. However, many questions remain about how government programs can most effectively and efficiently support the well-being of young children and their families.
Research presented at NRCEC 2026 will address these knowledge gaps across programs serving young children and their families. NRCEC 2026 will present the latest research and its implications for policy and practice surrounding Head Start, child care, home visiting, child welfare, special education, pre-kindergarten, early elementary, and other early childhood programs.
The conference welcomes submissions from all relevant fields including education, child development, political science, public policy, psychology, sociology, public and allied health, pediatrics, psychiatry, nursing, social work, dentistry, anthropology, law, and economics.
Attendees at the conference include academic and professional researchers, early childhood program administrators and practitioners, training and technical assistance providers, and federal, state, and local policymakers.
The views expressed by presenters at this conference do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the Office of Planning, Research and Evaluation, the Administration for Children and Families, or the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Frequently Asked Questions
Conference Logistics
When and where will NRCEC 2026 be held?
NRCEC 2026 will be held June 22—24, 2026 at the Crystal Gateway Marriott hotel in Arlington, VA.
Can I earn Continuing Education Units (CEUs) for attending the conference?
CEUs are not offered at NRCEC 2026.
Conference Content
What types of sessions are included in the conference?
The 2026 conference will include plenary sessions, symposia, poster symposia, poster sessions, workshops, and other events.
What topics are discussed at the conference?
The conference addresses knowledge gaps across programs serving young children and their families by presenting the latest research surrounding Head Start, child care, home visiting, child welfare, special education, pre-kindergarten, early elementary, and other early childhood programs.
Who is the conference intended for?
The conference is intended for a broad audience, including academic and professional researchers, early childhood program administrators and practitioners, training and technical assistance providers, and federal, state, and local policymakers.
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General Questions
How can I stay updated on NRCEC?
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Whom do I contact with additional questions?
Please contact nrcec@air.org if you have additional questions.
NRCEC 2026 Call for Presentations
The NRCEC 2026 Planning Committee invites the submission of posters, paper symposia, poster symposia, and professional development sessions for potential presentation at the conference.
Submissions should highlight rigorous and cutting-edge research of relevance to young children (birth to 8 years), their families, and the programs that serve them. This includes, but is not limited to research on child development; family economic and social well-being; early childhood systems, programs, policies, and interventions; and the early childhood workforce.
Submission formats for NRCEC 2026 include:
- Individual Posters
- Paper Symposia
- Poster Symposia
- *NEW* Professional Development Sessions
ACCESS THE CALL FOR PRESENTATIONS (PDF) for details about each submission type, evaluation criteria, submission requirements, and rules of participation
ACCESS THE NRCEC 2026 SUBMISSION SITE
SUBMISSION DEADLINE: Monday, November 3, 2025 at 11:59 p.m. ET
Presenters for all accepted proposals must present in-person at the conference. Select in-person sessions also will also be shared virtually.
For general information on the conference and details on the conference goals, visit the About page. For general submission questions or inquiries on program content, contact NRCEC@air.org.
Call for Reviewers
Applications are due by Monday, November 3, 2025 at 11:59 p.m. ET.
Access the Reviewer Application Site
The NRCEC 2026 Planning Committee invites you to apply to be a reviewer. Reviewers play a key role in ensuring the high quality and relevance of the presentations at the conference. From December 2025 through mid-January 2026, reviewers will read and rate proposals submitted in response to the Call for Presentations.
Reviewers for NRCEC 2026 must possess expertise and experience with both:
- Rigorous and cutting-edge research and evaluation methodology; and
- Early childhood development, policy, practice, and/or programs.
If you are selected to be a reviewer, you will review assigned submissions and enter your scores and brief written comments through our online system. We will hold a reviewer orientation webinar on December 3, 2025 from 2—3 p.m. ET. All reviewers must either attend live or watch the archived webinar prior to starting their reviews, even if they have reviewed for the conference before. Assigned submissions will be available following the reviewer orientation webinar, and all reviews must be completed by mid-January.
We anticipate assigning each reviewer approximately 6—9 proposals; you may be assigned multiple types of submissions (i.e., posters, paper symposia, and poster symposia). Submissions for individual posters will be 3—5 pages each. Submissions for paper and poster symposia will involve review of a 3—5 page introductory statement as well as 3—5 page summaries for each of the papers/posters within the symposium.
Please note that serving as a reviewer is a much appreciated but voluntary activity. Your name will be recognized in the conference program with our gratitude for lending your expertise to this worthwhile endeavor.
To apply to be a reviewer, you will be asked to submit several pieces of information, including:
Your personal information (first and last name, academic degree, area of study/title of degree program, current organization/institution, current position/title, and email address);
A brief description or examples of your experience/expertise with research and evaluation methodology and early childhood development, policy, practice, and/or programs; and
You will be asked to agree to the Peer Reviewer Terms.
As a final step in the reviewer application process, please put the reviewer orientation date on your calendar (December 3, 2025 from 2—3 p.m. ET)!
Hotel and Travel
HOTEL INFORMATION
NRCEC 2026 will be held at the Crystal Gateway Marriott in Arlington, VA. The hotel’s location provides easy access to local transportation, airports, and train stations. For more information, please visit the Crystal Gateway Marriott website.
For your convenience‚ a block of rooms has been reserved at a discounted rate for NRCEC attendees. The discounted room rate at the hotel is $276 per night (single or double occupancy), plus applicable state and local taxes which are currently 14.25%. To receive this discounted rate, attendees must make reservations with the hotel by Monday, June 1, 2026. After June 1, 2026, reservations will be accepted on a space available basis and may be at a significantly higher rate.
Attendees can make hotel reservations online or by phone. To make reservations online, access the hotel's online reservation system . To make hotel reservations by phone, contact the Marriott reservation line at 800-228-9290. Use the group name "2026 NRCEC” when making your reservations to receive the discounted room rate. You will be asked to provide a valid credit card number at the time of your reservation to hold your room. The hotel will assign specific room types at check-in based on availability. Upon check-in, you will be required to present a valid credit card to cover your accommodations and incidental charges during your stay.
Crystal Gateway Marriott Address: 1700 Richmond Highway, Arlington, VA 22202
TRAVEL INFORMATION
AIR TRAVEL INFORMATION
Three major airports serve the Washington, DC, area: Ronald Reagan Washington National (DCA), Dulles International (IAD), and Baltimore/Washington International (BWI). The most convenient airport to the meeting location is DCA‚ located approximately two miles from the Crystal Gateway Marriott, and accessible via public transit. IAD is located approximately 27 miles from the hotel, and BWI is located approximately 37 miles from the hotel.
TRAIN TRAVEL INFORMATION
Amtrak
Amtrak service is available into Washington, DC, via Union Station (WAS). Amtrak is a convenient option for many people who will be traveling from various points along the East Coast. To make Amtrak reservations, call (800) USA-RAIL or visit the Amtrak website
.
MARC Train
MARC Train Service is also available from the Baltimore-Washington metropolitan area into Washington, DC, via Union Station. Most MARC Train Service operates Monday through Friday only. Tickets can be purchased at Quik Trak machines, Amtrak Ticket Agents, Commuter Direct Ticket Agents, or online at Commuter Direct
. For more information, visit the MARC Train website
.
Metro
The Crystal Gateway Marriott is accessible via Washington, DC's Metro system. The closest Metro stop is the Crystal City station on the Blue and Yellow line (0.2 miles). The next closest Metro stop is the Pentagon station on the Blue and Yellow line (0.7 miles). The Metro Rail System map
(PDF) (PDF) can help you navigate your way through the DC Metro system. Use the trip planner
on the Metro website for detailed directions.
TAXI INFORMATION
Taxi stands are located near the baggage claims of all area airports and at the front entrance of Union Station. Approximate one-way fares to the hotel are as follows:
- From Reagan National Airport (DCA) - $10
- From Dulles International Airport (IAD) - $60
- From Baltimore/Washington International Airport (BWI) - $90
- From Union Station - $20
RIDESHARE INFORMATION
Lyft and Uber pickup areas are at the following locations:
- Reagan National Airport (DCA) — For Terminal 1, the pickup area is on the third (outer) curb. Terminal 2 pickup is available at the Baggage Claim/Arrivals level (first floor) in zones 1-4.
- Dulles International Airport (IAD) — The passenger pickup curb on the lower level outside of the baggage claim, accessible via doors 2, 4, or 6.
- Baltimore/Washington International Airport (BWI) — The pickup area is located at the terminal curbs on the Upper Level/Departures.
- Union Station — Lyft/Uber can pick up outside of Union Station or in the Kiss and Ride/Cell Phone Waiting Area located in the Union Station Parking Garage.
DRIVING DIRECTIONS
You can use Google Maps to customize your driving directions from your location. The Crystal Gateway Marriott offers onsite parking at the following rates: $20/hour; $45/day; $51/day valet. Additionally, there are several other parking garages and above-ground parking lots within close vicinity of the hotel.