To develop a deeper understanding of who Child Care and Early Education (CCEE) educators are--and what influences impact the entry, retention, turnover, and advancement (that is, the workforce dynamics) in this industry--the Building and Sustaining the Child Care and Early Education Workforce (BASE) research team identified and documented existing…

Since the summer of 2020 the Department for Education (DfE) has conducted a series of Provider Pulse Surveys designed to capture evidence about the childcare and early years sector. This report outlines findings from the eighth and ninth waves of the research, which were carried out in May and July 2024. On the eighth wave of the survey, questions…

In 2023, Wilder Research in St. Paul contracted with the Minnesota departments of Education (MDE) and Human Services (DHS) in partnership with the Minnesota Children's Cabinet to conduct an Early Care and Education (ECE) Workforce Survey. The purpose of the study is to describe characteristics of the ECE workforce, assess educators' economic…

This paper assesses the impacts of a large-scale program aimed at constructing daycare and preschool centers in Brazil named Proinfância, which funded new buildings in nearly 45% of the municipalities between 2008 and 2017. We find a significant increase in early education care in the jurisdictions that participated in the program more than a…

The 2024 Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) National Workforce Census (NWC) was commissioned by the Department of Education and aims to improve the quality of information used in developing and measuring early childhood policy and programs. This report gives a brief overview of some of the key data on ECEC services and workers, including:…

The Colorado General Assembly passed the Colorado Achievement Plan for Kids, SB08-212 (known as CAP4K), creating alignment from preschool through postsecondary education. The law requires a regular review of academic standards, state assessments, and postsecondary and workforce readiness. In addition, annual reporting needs to include…

China has established the world's largest education system. The gross enrollment ratio of pre-primary education, completion rate for compulsory education, and gross enrollment ratio of senior secondary education all exceed 90%. The gross enrollment ratio of higher education exceeds 60%, which is universally recognized as a high rate of enrollment.…

The significant shortfall of staff in the early childhood education and care (ECEC) workforce identifies an imperative not only to recruit educators but to support ongoing qualifications and career advancement of those within. Indeed, "Shaping Our Future," Australia's workforce strategy for 2022-2031 identifies qualifications and career…

The early childhood workforce encompasses a range of professionals across health care, early childhood education, mental health, child welfare, and early intervention. Despite the differences in daily responsibilities, these professionals experience similar systems-level challenges which impede their ability to professionally flourish and risk…

The Building and Sustaining the Child Care and Early Education Workforce (BASE) project aims to increase knowledge and understanding in child care and early education (CCEE) by documenting factors that drive workforce turnover and by building evidence on current initiatives to recruit, advance, and retain a stable and qualified CCEE workforce. As…

In 2021, California committed to making transitional kindergarten (TK)--a school-based preschool program initially designed for older 4-year-olds--available for all 4-year-olds by 2025-26. As TK becomes universal, California will need to greatly expand the early learning workforce. This brief provides estimates of how many TK teachers California…

The challenges of recruiting, strengthening, and retaining the child care and early education (CCEE) workforce are well documented. Members of the CCEE workforce typically have low levels of formal education and compensation; limited opportunities for education, training, and professional development; inconsistent working conditions; and high…

Despite profound benefits of high-quality early childhood education (ECE) that could address and avert educational inequities for children of color and those from low-income backgrounds, ECE in Michigan and across the nation lacks sufficient funding. Students of color and students from low-income backgrounds particularly encounter many barriers to…

This paper explores how leadership is addressed within Australia's National Children's Education and Care Workforce Strategy (ACECQA, 2021). The Workforce Strategy has been widely welcomed, arriving at a time of unprecedented workforce pressures in the early childhood education and care (ECEC) sector. Yet, on close examination there appears an…

Early care and education (ECE) programs are central to a thriving community: they support the well-being of children as well as their families. In Contra Costa County, approximately 260 child care centers serve children from birth through age five, along with 765 family child care providers operating in their own homes. These nurturing and vibrant…