About Us
Purpose
In our lab, we research, develop, validate, and apply IGDIs to support data-based decision making by educators, early childhood professionals, caregivers, and others to help improve early childhood outcomes.
In addition to a strong foundation in psychometric research, we also leverage technology to rapidly design, test, and refine assessments. This agile infrastructure allows us to innovate efficiently and make impactful tools accessible to more communities.
Overview Video
Our mission is to bring all young children's assets into focus through rigorous research, equity-centered design, and community engagement.
Values
Antiracist and Equity-Focused
We infuse our work with self-reflection, humility, un-learning of harmful practices and center the experiences of children with marginalized identities to equitably elevate all children’s outcomes.
Community-Centered Collaboration
We are collaborative - we don't do the work without grounding in our communities and engaging with partners in meaningful ways. We work WITH our collaborators, not just for our collaborators.
Multilingual Engagement
We are committed to honoring and engaging multilingual communities and children.
Balanced Research
We are committed to balancing psychometric rigor with lived experiences to provide practical tools that inform instruction. We value many different forms of expertise.
Strength-Based Approach
We are strength-based, focusing on highlighting and honoring strengths inherent within each individual.
Continuous Learning
We are learners- we make mistakes, we learn and adjust, and are always updating our approach and measures.
Innovation-Driven
We are innovators- striving to leverage technology and new solutions to design better products more quickly and at lower costs.
History and Timeline
Explore the key milestones in IGDILab's journey from founding to our current initiatives in early childhood assessment research and community engagement.
Click on events to see more details
early 1990s
Early Childhood Research Institute for Measuring Growth and Development (ECRI-MGD).
2001-2006
Early Reading First Initiative
2008
Center of Response to Intervention in Early Childhood
2012-2018
IGDIs Update
2012
IGDIs Espanol
2014
IGDI-APEL
2014
Early Learning Labs
2016
English and Spanish Progress Monitoring IGDI item pools
2016
Extending IGDIs for Young 3-Year-Olds
2017
Hmong IGDIs
2019
IGDI start up company
2020
Refining IGDI-APEL and Expanding Spanish-Language Measures
2021
Advancing Hmong IGDI Measures for Classroom Use
2021
Computer Adaptive Storybook Assessment: Leveraging Technology for Early Literacy
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2025
Scaling SPARKLE items
2025
AI-BRIDGE
People
Our team consists of dedicated researchers, practitioners, and community partners working together to advance early childhood development and assessment.
Directors and Staff
Meet Our Full Team
Learn more about all our team members including graduate students, community partners, and alumni who contribute to our research and mission.
Contact Information
For research collaborations and partnerships, please contact us directly at igdilab@umn.edu.
Our Address
56 E River Road, Minneapolis, MN 55455, United States
Phone
+1 (612) 624-3943
igdilab@umn.edu