Maintains that the United States tolerates an ineffective system of early education and professional preparation. Notes challenges to the field, including insufficient teacher preparation, outdated teacher professional development approaches, ineffective use of research findings to improve early childhood programs, and failure to understand,…

The field of early childhood education has traditionally struggled to be viewed as a profession. Recent public attention on the importance of the early years in creating a foundation for later learning success has led to a focus on improving education for young children. One aspect of educational reform and renewal--Professional Development…

Studies have shown that early years teachers are the most influential factor contributing to the quality of early years education. Well-educated teachers are professionally more competent and can decisively influence the quality of curriculum, which is becoming less and less centrally defined. This article describes the creation of a new program…

A significant research base supports the positive benefits of quality early care and education (ECE) for later developmental and academic outcomes. Noting that many ECE settings are of mediocre quality and that quality of care is related to teacher/caregiver qualifications, this working paper examines states initiatives to improve the…

This report summarizes findings from the second year of an implementation study of the Early Childhood Cluster Initiative (ECCI). ECCI is a prekindergarten program in ten elementary schools and a community child care center in Palm Beach County, based on the design of the High/Scope Perry Preschool model. The initiative is characterized by low…

This publication reports findings from the second year of an implementation study of the Early Childhood Cluster Initiative (ECCI). ECCI is a prekindergarten program in ten elementary schools and a community child care center in Palm Beach County, based on the design of the High/Scope Perry Preschool model. The initiative is characterized by low…

In 1988, the National Child Care Staffing Study (NCCSS) exposed the minimally adequate and deteriorating quality that characterized many of our nation's full-day child care centers and linked this poor quality to the inadequate compensation available to child care teaching staff. This report describes a follow-up study done in 1992 to provide an…

Once they begin kindergarten, America's children are taught by professionals with at least a four-year college degree. Prior to kindergarten, their teachers are far less prepared. Fewer than half of preschool teachers hold a bachelor's degree, and many have never even attended college. Noting that new research finds that young children's learning…

Discusses the concept of social capital, which enables teachers and caregivers to invest themselves affectively, through their behaviors, in the instruction and development of young children. Presents five dimensions of social capital which increase the chances of teaching effectiveness. (NH)

Explores role of early-childhood practitioners against background of shifts in social context and sociopolitical climate of early-childhood education and care in Germany. Maintains that practitioners are links in the process of repositioning early-childhood centers in quality debate. Discusses need for newly defined role combining family-centered…

Antarctica gathered in Ruschlikon, Switzerland, at the International Symposium on Early Childhood Education and Care for the 21st Century. The symposium's mission was to craft guidelines for programs that serve children under the age of formal schooling in countries throughout the world. After extensive discussions about what constitutes universal…

This article describes how a new "report card" on state-financed preschool programs concludes that states still have a long way to go to provide young children with high-quality educational experiences before they start kindergarten. While the report, which was issued by the National Institute for Early Education Research, in New Brunswick, New…

This article reports findings from a qualitative interview study that examined the provision of integrated kindergarten education for children with disabilities from the perspectives of general education teachers implementing integrated kindergarten programs. Analysis of interviews with eight informants led to the identification of two broad…

This training guide presents background information about the Child Development Associate (CDA) program, including a definition of quality CDA training that incorporates six criteria established by the Office of Child Development. The purposes of the guide are (1) to provide a clear and specific description of the CDA criteria in order to promote…

Most early care and education teachers are not required to have attained a bachelor's degree (BA) prior to working with young children. Because of the research base demonstrating that teachers with a BA specifically related to early childhood play an integral role in the provision of high-quality early care and education, there have been…