Margaret Bridges
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Margaret Bridges
Senior Research Scientist, Institute of Human Development,
University of California, Berkeley
Margaret Bridges is a developmental psychologist and senior research scientist at the Institute of Human Development (IHD) at the University of California, Berkeley. She leads the UCB Early Development and Learning Science Program, a transdisciplinary initiative focused on children from the prenatal period to age eight. Bridges’ research examines how family relationships and preschool environments influence young children’s social-emotional development and early academic skills. She also explores strategies to support families in preparing their children for school. Bridges earned her MA in developmental psychology from the University of Virginia, and her PhD in developmental psychology from the University of Virginia.
updated 2025
Publications by Margaret Bridges
California’s Quality Education Investment Act
This working paper examines the use of Quality Education Investment Act (QEIA) funds, which allocated $2.6B over seven years to California's lowest-performing schools. The authors conducted a study of four Los Angeles high schools to investigate how…
Rekindling Reform
This report discusses key education policy challenges in California, including funding, teacher quality, achievement gaps, and school accountability. The report highlights the need for equitable funding and effective teacher training and retention…
The Influence of Preschool Centers on Children’s Social and Cognitive Development
Using national data from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study (ECLS-K), this study examines the association between center-based care duration and intensity and pre-reading, math skills, and social behavior of young children. Children who start…
The Influence of Preschool Centers on Children’s Development Nationwide
This report examines the effects of preschool or childcare exposure on cognitive and social development before kindergarten, focusing on intensity and duration of attendance, and how this varies across different income and ethnic groups. The authors…