ERIC Number: ED607052
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 2020-Jun
Pages: 23
Abstractor: ERIC
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
Examining Regional Differences in the Arkansas Early Care and Education Workforce
Gebhart, Tracy; Garrison, Hallie; Franchett, Audrey; Fojut, Jackson; Epstein, Dale; Madill, Rebecca
Child Trends
This brief explores whether the geographic location of the early care and education (ECE) workforce might be associated with variations in well-being. Child Trends examined differences in Arkansas's ECE workforce by region and by urbanicity. Measures of well-being were derived from a comprehensive statewide ECE workforce survey. For this study, Child Trends partnered with the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS). The purpose of this brief is to examine specific characteristics of the ECE workforce to see whether they vary across the state of Arkansas. The brief addresses two main questions: (1) Does the ECE workforce in Arkansas vary by region or by urbanicity with respect to what teachers and caregivers report about their well-being, the economic pressures they face, and their education levels?; and (2) What factors do stakeholders believe might contribute to variation in the characteristics of well-being, economic pressures, and education levels within the ECE workforce across Arkansas? Key findings include: (1) There was significant variation by region or urbanicity on three measures of workforce well-being: teachers' and caregivers' risk of depression, their perceptions of decision-making power at their workplaces, and their likelihood of attaining an ECE credential; (2) While there were not significant differences by region or urbanicity, the likelihood of teachers and caregivers holding a second job was moderately high across the state; and (3) Although there were not significant differences by region or urbanicity, the likelihood of teachers and caregivers experiencing food insecurity was relatively high across the state.
Descriptors: Geographic Location, Early Childhood Education, Early Childhood Teachers, Well Being, Geographic Regions, Teacher Attitudes, Caregiver Attitudes, Economic Factors, Educational Attainment, Depression (Psychology), At Risk Persons, Power Structure, Participative Decision Making, Teacher Certification, Multiple Employment, Hunger, Child Care, Certification, Rural Urban Differences, Work Environment, Suburbs, Urban Areas, Rural Areas, Probability
Child Trends. 7315 Wisconsin Avenue Suite 1200W, Bethesda, MD 20814. Tel: 240-223-9200; Fax: 240-200-1238; Web site: http://www.childtrends.org
Publication Type: Reports - Research
Education Level: Early Childhood Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: Foundation for Child Development
Authoring Institution: Child Trends
Identifiers - Location: Arkansas
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A