Career Development and Universal Prekindergarten: What Now? What Next?

Concerns about the qualifications, turnover, diversity, and compensation of the early childhood workforce are growing as more children attend private and public preschool programs. Although a teacher's education is positively linked to student achievement in preschool through high school, many early childhood teachers have limited education beyond high school. Increasing the education levels of the current and future workforce will ensure that children's early educational experiences are both enriching and nurturing.

As part of the Foundation’s focus on promoting universal early education, the Foundation convened a cross section of individuals working on career development issues to begin to identify research, policy, and advocacy opportunities related to the preparation of the early childhood workforce. Topics covered were: the bachelor's degree as the entry-level requirement for early education teachers; characteristics of the workforce and opportunities for career development; current career initiatives; recruitment and retention; and next steps for research, policy formation, and advocacy.

Research about young children's learning and the changing social context require that teachers have a higher level of training and skills than they currently possess. Participants generally agreed that early childhood teachers should have a bachelor's degree (BA). Questions remain as to how the degree improves teaching and affects child outcomes.