The Educational Research Institute (ERI) is the central institution in Slovenia for research in education undertaking basic research, development and applied projects on issues of current interest in all sectors of education and related areas. ERI was established in 1965 by the Government of the Republic of Slovenia, as an institute devoted to the study of education. From 1970 the ERI was associated with the University of Ljubljana until the 1995 when, with an act of the Government of Slovenia, ERI obtained the status of the public research institution and thus became an independent research institute.
The ERI is organized in nine Centers. One of them, which will be involved in the proposed project, is Developmental Research Center for Pedagogical 
Initiatives Step by Step (DRCPI SBS). DRCPI SBS was founded in 1995 as Step by step program at OSI National Foundation in Slovenia. In 1997, the organization has changed its name in Developmental Research Center for Pedagogical Initiatives and moved to Educational Research Institute.
The DRCPI SBS was established in order to research, develop, initiate, implement and promote various activities in the educational field, which support educational reform processes in public pre-/schools in Slovenia. Through these activities Center aims to ensure equal opportunities in education for all children and involve families and community members into the educational processes. The Center-s programs are based on principles of democratic civil society, children’s and parent’s rights, contemporary knowledge of child development and learning abilities and introduction of changes into the educational system.
The DRCPI SBS develops and provides various basic and advanced in-service training for preschool and school teachers, school counsellors, headmasters and other stakeholders in the field of Early childhood education and Development, Education for Social Justice, Inclusion, Diversity and Values of Democracy, in order to ensuring access to quality pre/-school programs to all children, providing equal opportunities for all, and to ensure continuous professional development and quality improvement in practice. The DRCPI SBS has been involved in EU and national projects, particularly in the field of education of Roma (children and adults), professional development and professionalism in early childhood education, and quality principles and indicators. In addition, DRCPI SBS is publishing different handbooks and professional materials for teachers, parents and children. The DRCPI SBS is actively involved in activities of International Step by Step Association (ISSA), which is focusing on quality of early childhood education and equal opportunities for all children, and in Romani Early Years Network (REYN), which aims to empower Roma and non-Roma Early Childhood Development (ECD) professionals and para-professionals working with Romani communities, offering them opportunities for professional development, training, study visits and international networking across the early childhood development sector.
LOCAL PARTNER: Preschool Šentvid