Early Childhood Technical Assistance Specialist, SRI Education
Howard Morrison is an Early Childhood Technical Assistance Specialist with SRI, where he works with states and local communities to strengthen early childhood care and education systems so that they are data-informed, and family-centered. With more than 15 years of experience in early learning policy, data systems, and program implementation, Morrison helps education leaders build capacity to use data effectively and design coordinated services that improve outcomes for young children and their families.
At SRI, Morrison provides leadership across multiple national and state initiatives, including the U.S. Department of Education–funded Center for IDEA Early Childhood Data Systems (DaSy), Center for the Integration of IDEA Data (CIID), and the Child Find ACCESS model demonstration project. He supports states in linking and governing data systems, developing coordinated eligibility and enrollment systems, and building local partnerships to identify and serve children with disabilities earlier and more effectively. His work combines technical expertise with hands-on facilitation, helping a variety of constituents translate data insights into meaningful policy and practice improvements.
Morrison also co-leads national and state learning communities focused on coordinated eligibility, data integration, and workforce support. Through these initiatives, he engages agencies, early learning providers, and family leaders in shared problem-solving to expand access to high-quality early care and education. His collaborative approach and focus on continuous improvement have helped states design practical solutions that reflect community strengths and priorities.
Before joining SRI, Morrison served as the Statewide Coordinator for Early Childhood Education at the Texas Education Agency (TEA), where he directed major statewide initiatives, including the implementation of full-day, high-quality prekindergarten, Early Childhood Data System (ECDS), Texas School Ready project, Texas Kindergarten Entry Assessment, and many other statewide quality improvement efforts. He led the development of cross-agency data-sharing agreements, integrated early learning data into the state’s longitudinal data system, and worked with local and regional partners to expand access to early learning programs. His leadership in data governance and systems alignment continues to inform his technical assistance to states nationwide.
Throughout his career, Howard has focused on using data to drive positive outcomes and ensure that children enter school ready to succeed. He brings a deep understanding of how policy, practice, and data can work together to create stronger, more connected early childhood systems.
Morrison holds a BA in business administration from St. Andrews University.
Key projects
- Center for IDEA Early Childhood Data Systems (DaSy Center)
- Center for the Integration of IDEA Data (CIID)
- Child Find ACCESS
- First 5 Alameda County – Coordinated Eligibility and Enrollment
- Colorado Universal Prekindergarten Discovery
- National Technical Assistance Center for Preschool Development Grants Birth Through Five (PDG B-5 TA)
- Arkansas’s Implementation of Suspension and Expulsion Reduction Policies (ARISE)
- The Children’s Cabinet – Nevada ECE Workforce Support Framework Report
- ECDataWorks
- Virginia Early Childhood Foundation – Early childhood systems building for community partnership
Selected publications
- Part C Data Dashboards: From Idea to Reality
- DaSy Data Inquiry Cycle
- Nevada Early Care and Education Workforce Framework
- ECDataWorks Programmatic Use Case for the Development of an Analytic Tool
- Federal Investment in Early Childhood Data Systems
- Early Childhood Integrated Data Analytic Self-Assessment Rubric
Selected media
- DaSyTalks: Episode 1: Unlocking State Data Superpowers with the DaSy Framwork
- Increasing Family Access and System Coordination Through Coordinated Eligibility and Enrollment. Part 1: The What and the Why of CEE, Part 2: Where to Begin and What to Consider, Part 3: Facilitators, Barriers, and Things to Remember.
- Early Childhood Policy Matters Podcast. Episode 10: A Vision for Equity and Inclusion in Washington State
- Early Childhood Policy Matters Podcast. Episode 11: State Innovations: California’s Master Plan
- Early Childhood Policy Matters Podcast. Episode 12: Best Practices and Policies that Support. Students Transition Across Systems
