This report provides a new look at the reality of the economic well-being for California’s early educators. It is the third in a series on early educator well-being. The report draws from our 2023 survey of 1,840 educators from all job roles…

This study, guided by the socio-cultural theory of learning, investigated the attitudes of early childhood teachers toward multicultural practice and its association with their characteristics, sense of teacher efficacy, and attitude toward…

The purpose of this case study was to explore how the discourses and pedagogy of Mariana, an urban early childhood educator in the Northeastern United States, were informed by the construct of hope as an aspect of her professional practice. Like…

This literature review, framed by Black feminist thought and the power of counternarratives, explores the historical and socio-political roles of Black women educators and childcare providers as othermothers. From colonial America to the present…

The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated challenges in the child care industry, leading to closures and financial strain. Early care and education (ECE) providers faced reduced income, increased debt, and material hardships such as food insecurity.…

This brief aims to improve our understanding of the well-being of the Hispanic ECE workforce and how ECE programs may play a role in their well-being (or “wellness”). Staff wellness is a term that refers to ECE educators’ mental and physical…

The purpose of this systematic literature review was to understand trends in field experiences that were part of early childhood special education (ECSE) teacher preparation activities. Thirteen studies that included an analysis of ECSE teacher…

For this qualitative study we were interested to hear the experiences of reservation-based Native American Head Start teachers to understand: 1. What stresses they experience and how they cope. Are these stressors similar or different to those…

Cultural navigators (CNs) serve as a bridge between immigrants and refugees and receiving communities. CNs help individuals from minoritized cultural groups navigate human service and educational systems and provide connections to local resources…

Family child care professionals are a critical sector of the early care and education workforce. Utilizing critical race theory and Yosso’s Community Cultural Wealth model, the current study seeks to examine the strengths and assets that family…

Our national survey of the EI/ECSE workforce highlights key strengths and concerns. Workers find their roles rewarding, appreciate making a difference for children and families, and are well-qualified, with most holding at least a bachelor’s…

All children deserve quality early care and education (ECE) experiences that value them and lay a foundation for positive life trajectories. Unfortunately, many minoritized children in ECE experience inequities including a greater likelihood of…

This case study of New Mexico documents recent advancements in early educator compensation and explores key elements of progress as well as considerations for other states. It is informed by extensive background research using publicly available…