Education Researcher and Technical Assistance Specialist, SRI Education
Nicholas Ortiz, MPA, brings 17 years of impactful experience empowering organizations to leverage data for improved outcomes for young children and their families through rigorous research, evaluation, and targeted technical assistance (TA). His expertise lies in quantitative and spatial analysis of complex state early childhood administrative data, encompassing child assessment and services for special education, state-funded preschool, and foster care.
Ortiz is nationally recognized for his TA expertise through the federally funded DaSy and ECTA Centers. For these Centers, he leads TA initiatives focused on data processes and analytics, supports states in reporting outcomes for young children with disabilities, and facilitates learning communities for users of prominent child assessment tools like Teaching Strategies GOLD and the Battelle Developmental Inventory (BDI).
In the research arena, Ortiz has analyzed administrative data under two federally funded Child Care Policy Research Partnership grants. This work includes investigating facilitators and barriers to inclusion in California’s subsidized child care and enhancing access to high-quality care for children in Arkansas foster care. He is also innovating the use of spatial analytics to understand the impact of extreme weather on early childhood and K–12 education systems.
Prior to SRI, Ortiz dedicated over a decade to public service with the Colorado Department of Education’s early childhood unit. There, he oversaw data services, analytics, program evaluation, and accountability reporting. A key achievement was co-designing Results Matter, Colorado’s nationally recognized preschool assessment system that informed the state’s kindergarten readiness assessment system. He also actively contributed to state data governance as a member of the Early Childhood Leadership Commission’s Data Subcommittee.
Ortiz effectively communicates complex data insights to various audiences, including policymakers and funders, through his proficiency in data visualization software such as ArcGIS, StoryMaps, Tableau, and Excel. Also, his certification in online learning course design has enabled him to develop valuable assessment data use modules for the early childhood workforce.
Ortiz holds an MPA with an emphasis in education policy from the University of Colorado Denver and a BA in psychology from Northwestern University.
Key projects
- Actionable Information for Planning and Responding to Extreme Weather Disruptions in K-12 Education
- Improving Participation of Children in Foster Care in Stable, High Quality Early Care and Education
- Center for IDEA Early Childhood Data Systems (DaSy)
- Early Childhood Technical Assistance Center (ECTA)
- Inclusion of Children with Disabilities in Subsidized Child Care in California
Recent publications
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The Impacts of Extreme Weather Disasters on the Implementation of Head Start Services
The increasing frequency and intensity of extreme weather disasters pose significant challenges to the delivery of Early Head Start (EHS) and Head Start (HS) services, impacting children’s access to early…
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Improving Participation of Children in Foster Care in Stable, High-Quality Early Care and Education: Administrative Data Findings (Conference poster)
This conference poster presents findings from administrative data analyses about the experiences of young Arkansas children in foster care in subsidized child care.
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Data Snapshot 1: Preschoolers with Disabilities in Subsidized Child Care in California: 2015-2019
This infographic summarizes key findings on children ages 3 through 5 years with disabilities in subsidized early learning and care in California.
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Data Snapshot 2: Preschoolers Receiving Special Education: California and National Data (School Years 2011-12 to 2019-20)
This infographic summarizes key findings on where children ages 3 through 5 years with disabilities in California received their received special education services.
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Study Poster: Exploring Inclusion Through Administrative Data: Challenges & Opportunities
This poster presents key findings from the analyses of administrative data about children ages 3 through 5 years with disabilities in subsidized care in California.
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Using Data to Support Children and Families: The North Dakota Early Childhood Integrated Data System Strategic Plan
SRI developed this strategic plan for North Dakota to help guide the state’s partners in building community support and engagement for their early childhood integrated data system (ECIDS).
Selected publications
- In search of fair play: Designing pay parity for Head Start teachers
- Timeline of common child outcomes measurement-related activities: Part B preschool. SRI International.
- Using pivot tables for data analysis [Video series]. DaSy Center.
- Should I stay or should I go? Leveling up your data systems. DaSy Blog Post.
For a complete list of publications visit https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicholasortiz/