Practitioner research is increasingly used by and with teachers to counter discourses and policies of top-down standardisation. Growing numbers of researchers advocate benefits as the learning and empowerment of educators, and the sense of achievement for university researchers when they research with rather than about educators. We focus here on…

High-quality early childhood education (ECE) begins with well-prepared, highly qualified educators. This brief offers practitioners and policymakers an opportunity to learn from promising programs that recruit and prepare racially, ethnically, culturally, and linguistically diverse cohorts of educators to teach in programs serving children birth…

In 2016, Washington, D.C. passed regulations that sought to increase the education and credentials of the early educator workforce. To meet the needs of Spanish-speaking educators, leaders at the University of the District of Columbia Community College (UDC-CC) collaborated with community stakeholders and organizations, to design and implement a…

Through an examination of the reflective comments of 42 pre-service Early Childhood Education Teachers (PS-ECETs), this study describes how an infancy course within an Early Childhood Education program used four different ways of organizing learning to unravel details of infant pedagogy, focusing on the role of the teacher. It is vital to theorize…

Young children and their families benefit from early care and education (ECE) settings implementing high-quality practices that support children's well-being, health, and safety. Activities to support quality are a focal point of federal and state investments, including over $1 billion of the Child Care and Development Fund and nearly $240 million…

With growing emphasis on the development and use of competencies (knowledge, dispositions, skills) for training and evaluating the early childhood workforce, this study aimed to identify sources of variation in undergraduate students' beliefs and knowledge related to competencies identified by the Collaborative for Understanding Pedagogy for…

Many theoreticians focus on understanding the belief system regarding the mind of the learner--The Mind Theory. Olson & Brunner (1996) referred to this belief system as "folk psychology." They named the processes required to promote learners' knowledge and understanding "folk pedagogy." In their opinion, folk pedagogy…

College students with young children are dependent upon childcare for their academic success. Fortunately for students attending a tribal college or university (TCU), early learning centers (ELCs) provide more than just childcare. They offer an education centered on Indigenous values and knowledge, which not only helps the parent succeed…

Practitioner research is an approach increasingly used by and with teachers, including in early childhood (EC) education. Studies outlining the benefits of educator engagement in research show learning, empowerment and self-determination in professional direction. There is also a sense of achievement for university researchers when they research…

It is impossible to anticipate the length and impact of a global pandemic. Millions of young children across the globe had to quickly adjust to innovations in technology that support cognitive development. The coaches and educators at the Quality Early Education System (QEES) in Hillsborough County-a comprehensive, multiagency effort to support…

Services to children are often provided through a transdisciplinary model, particularly when students are receiving special education services and supports. Given the individual and diverse needs of these children, professionals often work collaboratively in evaluating students, interpreting results, and making recommendations for appropriate…

There is well-established evidence that the quality of early childhood education workforce impacts upon children's learning. Attracting qualified teacher graduates to work in early childhood centres is an essential component towards the provision of quality care. Significant investment by the Australian Government has been made to prepare early…

For single mothers families, who are especially likely to live in poverty, college attainment is a game changer for improving family well-being and meeting the demands of a changing economy. College credentials are associated with a host of positive outcomes, including increased earnings, higher rates of employment, improved health, increased…

For preservice teachers in early childhood education, having a rich exposure to multiple forms of literacy in diverse communities is an essential dimension of their teacher education. In this study, 10 Australian preservice early childhood education students, in the first year of their course, visit two early childhood settings in a large city in…

President Biden is committed to seeking and providing the necessary resources to support the safe operation of institutions of higher education (IHEs) and addressing the ongoing impacts resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic on higher education students, adult education students, faculty, and staff. In Volume 3 of this Handbook, a series to support…