This report compiles the most recent salary and benefits data available for the U.S. Child care workforce. Data for average wages of preschool teachers and child care workers are presented for each state. Comparisons between median hourly wages for child care jobs and other occupations are presented graphically. Initiatives at the federal, state,…

Examined beliefs and practices of Korean early childhood teachers. Found that public kindergarten teachers had more academic preparation and teaching experience and reported implementing more appropriate and fewer inappropriate teaching practices than other teachers. Child caregivers used more inappropriate teaching strategies than public or…

Compensation of early childhood professionals is not on an equal basis with that of other teachers or other professionals with similar training and experience. Six guidelines that can be used for making decisions about the provision of compensation to early childhood professionals are offered. (DG)

The beliefs of 280 early childhood teachers regarding aspects of family-centered programing were assessed using the Family Involvement Survey. Results showed that public school teachers reported less positive beliefs about parents' interests and abilities and lower competence in relating to families than did either child care or Head Start…

This position paper addresses three related issues that concern the right of children and their families to (1) receive quality care, education, and special intervention services; (2) have these services delivered through systems designed to promote their well-being; and (3) have these services delivered by adequately trained and compensated…

Used qualitative data from structured written diaries and observational data to compare the typical work performed during one day by child care staff, early childhood teachers, and administrators in England. Content analyses revealed a picture of the complexity of work, highlighting similarities and differences in work by people with different job…

Examined the interrelationships between day care teachers' job satisfaction, stability, and their interaction with children in 25 classrooms of 3- and 4-year-olds. Found that teachers who were higher on quality of interactions with children were more likely to consider their work a long-term career, to return to their job in the fall, and to take…

Explored different kinds of participation in play and development of joint role play. Observed games and play sessions of a 2-year-old girl in a day care group. Found that the girl proceeded from a feeling of togetherness in a shared space through parallel and successive play actions to reciprocity and equal exchange of play actions. (JPB)

Using a systematic storytelling procedure termed critical incident recording, a teacher-as-researcher model was implemented with staff in early childhood centers that include children with disabilities. The approach encourages teachers to conduct a critical analysis of children's performance and of environmental variables that contribute to…

Investigated perceptions of child care staff and parents using child care services. Argues that early childhood care performs educational, cultural transmission, and child welfare functions, and that current debates limit the development of services that meet family and community needs. Urges new discourses that could facilitate more responsive…

This study examined preliminary psychometric properties of the Teaching Practices Observation Scale (TPOS), a newly developed observational taxonomy for assessing teacher behaviors during free play with young children. Behaviors of 42 child caregivers and junior kindergarten teachers were coded using a combination of time-sampling, event-sampling,…

Examined effects of a 120-hour preschool training course on caregivers' behavior and children's development in early-years settings in Ireland. Found that caregivers who received training made significant gains in positive relationship and decreased in detachment levels. Children in their care made significant gains in complex social and cognitive…

Public Act 05-245 called for the establishment of a committee to assess pathways to baccalaureate degree programs in early childhood education; make recommendations to increase access to initial certification in early childhood or child development; and make recommendations for strengthening articulation between two-year and four-year early…

This study examined the needs of beginning early childhood teachers in their first year of work in primary schools, kindergartens, or child care centers in Australia. The study surveyed teachers in 1988, 1989, and 1990; this paper discusses the results from the 1990 survey. Subjects were 31 teachers who responded to a questionnaire that concerned…

High quality training is necessary to ensure that early childhood and child care practitioners are equipped to meet the diverse needs of the children and families they serve. This book presents the professional development partnership model of The Center for Career Development in Early Care and Education, a strategy to build a comprehensive career…