Working with young children is intellectually, emotionally, and physically demanding. These challenges are compounded by the inadequate compensation that characterizes the early care and education (ECE) sector and lack of workplace support such as access to health benefits, retirement plans, and time off (Montoya et al., 2022). The cumulative…

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…

Our look at the well-being of California's early educators points to the need to consider work environments in early care and education (ECE) policy development. The learning environments of young children are also the work environments of the ECE workforce. Supportive and safe work environments that foster a respectful workplace climate can…

First 5 Los Angeles County partnered with the Center for the Study of Child Care Employment (CSCCE) to explore the state of child care centers and family child care (FCC) providers. As part of the California Early Care and Education Workforce Study, CSCCE conducted surveys in 2020 and 2023 to measure both individual- and site-level factors. In…

Early care and education (ECE) is complex, highly skilled, emotionally and physically demanding work for which educators deserve to be adequately rewarded. California's early educators often exceed the minimum educational requirements for their jobs. More than one half of both center- and home-based educators hold an associate degree or higher…