National Early Care and Education Workforce Center

Action Research Partnerships - Early Care & Education Workforce Center Intensive support to inform sustainable systems change 🔗 Through Action Research Partnerships, the National ECE Workforce Center lends our technical […]

The New Mexico Action Research Partnership was led by a cross-disciplinary team of #TechnicalAssistance specialists, #researchers, and content experts representing the Center’s core and collaborating partners. Learn more about our Action Research Partnerships: buff.ly/CvOdpLs #WeWorkForECE

Pay, career plan proposed for Early Childhood Department workers The plan would, backers say, aid retention in a workforce plagued by turnover due to low wages and opportunities elsewhere.

NM’s historic effort to create a #career advancement framework among #EarlyChildhood workers with pay raises based on credentials & experience is the result of months of work & sets the foundation for a more sustainable ECE workforce! Read the news from @thenewmexican.bsky.social: buff.ly/5eMPoZd

Kudos to #NM for taking meaningful steps to support the #ECE workforce! We partnered with the NM Early Childhood Education & Care Department, Change Team, & Prenatal to Five Fiscal Strategies on creating a framework for career advancement among #EarlyChildhood workers.

Are you an emerging scholar studying poverty, economic well-being, or #ECE among Hispanic children and families? Apply for the National Research Center on Hispanic Children & Families’ #PD grant to enhance your professional growth as a scholar & educator. Apply by 8/13. buff.ly/cKpp2Hz #WeWorkForECE

Professional Development Grant - Hispanic Research Center The Center will provide awards of up to $2,850 for professional development or as seed funds to support research activities.

The National Research Center on Hispanic Children & Families is accepting applications for its #PD grant opportunity for emerging #scholars whose #research focuses on poverty, economic well-being, and #ECE among Hispanic children & families! Apply by 8/13: buff.ly/cKpp2Hz #WeWorkForECE

Our #research highlight, "How Staffing Patterns Shape Work Environments for Early Educators," examines how staffing patterns—policies and practices such as breaks and support staff that shape an early educator’s workday—directly affect the #ECE work environment. Read it here: buff.ly/u3dLGRq

🤔 Did you know? Researchers out of Rocky Mountain Prevention Research Center published a 2022 report that found 80% of early childhood educators say there aren’t enough staff to get everything done—compared to just 61% of workers nationally. Source: buff.ly/jUCkCil #WeWorkForECE

Don’t miss out on:
- #Research-based courses
- Educational clock hours that meet the CDA certification requirement
- Flexible online learning
- Portfolio-building activities
- Built-in exam prep questions

Have you heard? The National Center on Early Childhood Development, Teaching, and Learning launched the iCDA Course Preparation Series just for the #ECE workforce working toward their #CDA credential! Learn more here: buff.ly/bAaSN2h #WeWorkForECE

Did you know? Nearly 50% of center-based early educators and 39% of family child care educators hold an associate, bachelor’s, or higher degree. This shows the dedication of #EarlyEducators to furthering their skills! Dive into our brief for 5 strategies to help: buff.ly/xmPRa2Z #WeWorkForECE

We explore how:
- staffing patterns vary by setting and location,
- staffing shortages create challenges for offering necessary breaks and paid planning time for early educators, and
- actionable research can support #policy solutions to ensure sufficient staffing.

How Staffing Patterns Shape Work Environments for Early Educators - Early Care & Education Workforce Center Early educators are critical to creating safe, high-quality learning environments for children in early care and education (ECE) settings. But […]

New Resource Alert! Our new #research highlight, "How Staffing Patterns Shape Work Environments for Early Educators," summarizes the evidence behind how staffing patterns and shortages shape #EarlyEducators’ well-being & decisions to stay in the field. Read it here: buff.ly/u3dLGRq #WeWorkForECE

Curious what others are saying about the brief? Join our upcoming Coffee Chat on Tuesday, July 8 for a chance to connect, share ideas, and hear insights from ECE system, program, and community leaders. Let’s build community and spark conversation together! Learn more and register: buff.ly/a0fP9VH

Curious how states are valuing early educators’ experience in #career pathways, in addition to #education & #professionaldevelopment? #WA, #CO & #NC are leading the way. Don’t miss our latest brief on promising approaches in #ECE workforce advancement. buff.ly/Im5RNqu #WeWorkForECE

Leadership & Partner Organizations - Early Care & Education Workforce Center Leadership Team Kathryn ToutManaging Director Mallory WarnerDeputy Managing Director Brandy Jones LawerenceTA Director Anne DouglassResearch Co-Director Rena HallamResearch Co-Director Katherine […]

Did you catch the news? We announced our Early Educator Advisory Board! They’re bringing real-world experience to help guide the National #ECE Workforce Center’s work. Meet them here: buff.ly/cUIPNRU #WeWorkForECE

Join our upcoming Coffee Chat on 7/8 at 2:00 p.m. ET as we discuss our RtP brief “Incorporating Early Educators’ Experience Into Career Pathways.” Connect with ECE system, program, & community leaders & spark meaningful conversations together. Register here: buff.ly/a0fP9VH

Field #experience is one way through which educators can gain key competencies, but few states include experience as a qualification for career advancement. Our brief highlights 2 ways for valuing and #compensating #EarlyEducators for their experience in career ladders. buff.ly/Im5RNqu #WeWorkForECE

We have extended the application deadline to July 3 for two upcoming #TechnicalAssistance opportunities designed to support states, territories, and Tribes in advancing effective #career pathways! Learn more about each opportunity and apply by Thursday, July 3: buff.ly/zMfFSrq #WeWorkForECE

Are you an #ECE leader passionate about strengthening career pathways for the #workforce? We have the perfect opportunity for you! Apply by 6/23 for one of our #TechnicaAssistance opportunities designed to help states revise career pathways to incorporate experience. Learn more: buff.ly/1WG4A5l

Have questions? Join our upcoming information sessions to ask questions:
- June 17 – 3:00-4:00 p.m. ET: buff.ly/JG1b2EQ

Opportunity 2: #Community for Action—This targeted technical assistance offering supports states, #territories, and #Tribes that are preparing to update their career pathway but are at an earlier stage of exploration.

Opportunity 1: Action #Research Partnership—Designed for #states that are already engaged—or entering a phase of active work—on embedding credit for prior experience within their #career pathways.

📣 We’re recruiting for 2 exciting #TechnicalAssistance opportunities to strengthen #CareerPathways in #ECE! Read the thread below to learn more and apply by 6/23: buff.ly/1WG4A5l #WeWorkForECE

New Brief! “Incorporating Early Educators’ Experience Into Career Pathways” is out now. Learn how #ECE leaders can build career pathways that incorporate educators’ real-world experience, as well as #professionaldevelopment & #education. Get inspired & read more: buff.ly/Im5RNqu #WeWorkForECE

Did you miss our latest RtP brief, “Benefits Offered to Early Care and Education Educators?” Explore the brief & learn how benefits support #educator well-being & how state & program leaders are leveraging existing public funding streams to provide more support. buff.ly/iE7S40p #WeWorkForECE

Register for the 2025 National African American Child and Family Research Center Community-Engaged Research Conference on 6/12 in Atlanta, GA. Discuss and collaborate on research in early care and education & social and economic mobility. #CBPR #EconomicMobility #earlyeducation bit.ly/4ijKVVl

📣 We’re recruiting for 2 exciting #TechnicalAssistance opportunities to strengthen #CareerPathways in #ECE! Both opportunities support states, territories, and Tribes in integrating credit for prior work experience into career pathways. Learn more and apply by 6/23: buff.ly/tRDmysd #WeWorkForECE

Benefits Offered to Center-Based Early Care and Education Educators - Early Care & Education Workforce Center This National ECE Workforce Center research-to-practice brief describes new analyses of the 2019 National Survey of Early Care and Education (NSECE) investigating the types of benefits packages…

Did you know benefits like #HealthInsurance & retirement plans can make a big difference for #ECE educators' well-being? Our new brief shows how innovative state & program leaders are using existing public funds & programs to offer support to early educators. Learn more: buff.ly/iE7S40p#WeWo...

Whether you work in higher education or professional development, you play a key role in strengthening the #ECE workforce. Our new brief shares 5 key considerations to support #EarlyEducators in gaining degrees & credentials. Read the brief: buff.ly/xmPRa2Z #WeWorkForECE

Meet our Early Educator Advisory Board! These incredible educators work directly with young children every day & will now help guide the work of the National #ECE Workforce Center. They'll be shaping resources, building leadership skills, & bringing real-world insight to the table. buff.ly/cUIPNRU