Faculty bio

Sara Schmitt is an academic expert in self-regulation and school readiness in young children. Her research is focused on two areas:  identifying contextual and individual predictors and correlates of self-regulation and school readiness in early childhood, and designing and evaluating targeted interventions, curricula, and policies to enhance these skills in children from minoritized populations, for example, those living in poverty. Schmitt has an extensive background in developing early childhood interventions that are low-cost, feasible to implement and incorporate in preschool classrooms, and are accessible to all early educators. These research lines are in the service of detecting and preventing early learning problems and, ultimately, reducing socioeconomic disparities as children make their way through formal schooling.

Recent Media:
New research to test validity of an early learning curriculum (OregonNews, September 24, 2024)
Sara Schmitt awarded grant for early childhood curriculum evaluation (July 14, 2024)
UO Scientists and Big Ten peers Make Powerful Partners (Oregon Quarterly, July 3, 2024)
Indiana pre-K students see academic benefits through fourth grade, study shows (Chalkbeat, Feb. 2, 2022)
Mindfulness-based program boosts preschoolers’ interest in fruit, veggies (United Press International, Nov. 6, 2020)
How to prime preschoolers for success (Scientific American, Oct. 1, 2019)
Why toy blocks rock: The science of construction play (Parenting Science, Aug. 2018)