High-quality and effective preschool programs require knowledgeable and skilled educators. With California’s expansion of transitional kindergarten and adoption of the PK-3 Early Childhood Education Specialist Credential, the state and its institutions of higher education (IHEs) have the opportunity to create and offer new teacher preparation programs that develop a qualified early educator workforce. This monograph provides policymakers and practitioners information on how eight well-regarded early educator preparation programs across four states with early childhood teacher credentials (Louisiana, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and New York) navigated prekindergarten expansion and early childhood credential development. Findings identify key policy strategies that can inform California state policymakers’ and IHE’s efforts to improve candidate recruitment, program quality and accessibility, and educator success. (author abstract)