Resources For States In Supporting The Early Childhood Workforce

Nov 10, 2008

With the continual headlines about economic concerns and jobs being cut, an important economic sector is not getting enough attention the early childhood workforce. For working families with children, child care is a necessity. Having stable and high-quality child care arrangements enables parents to go to work with peace of mind that their children are safe and in stimulating environments. Yet the low wages and lack of support for many early childhood professionals challenge the stability and quality of the workforce.

New materials from the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) provide resources to states looking to shore up their systems for early childhood workers. The report Workforce Designs: A Policy Blueprint for State Professional Development Systems presents principles for policy making and essential policy areas aimed at developing and retaining effective, diverse, and adequately compensated early childhood professionals. NAEYC is also developing an online matrix that examines each policy area by state, with links to appropriate state documentation and analysis of whether the state s activities in this policy area meet the principles for policy making. The principles and policy areas address important issues that states must consider when planning for developing their early childhood workforce, such as quality, diversity, access, compensation, career pathways, and financing, to name a few.

In the continuing discussions of economic stimulus and recovery, sound investments in the early childhood workforce shouldn t be overlooked.