Early Childhood Workforce Systems Initiative
Funded by the Buffett Early Childhood Fund and Cornerstones for Kids. By virtue of this support, NAEYC is pleased to be a member of the Birth to Five Policy Alliance.
Overview
NAEYC is undertaking a new state professional development and career systems initiative, made possible by the generous support of the Buffett Early Childhood Fund and Cornerstones for Kids. This initiative focuses on the underlying state public policies that support integrated early childhood professional development systems for all early childhood education professionals working with and on behalf of young children.
An integrated system of early childhood professional development that crosses sectors serves early childhood education professionals working in direct and nondirect service roles. Such roles may be in Head Start; for-profit and not-for-profit child care programs in centers and homes; state prekindergarten programs in community-based and school-settings; public school programs; early intervention and special education services; resource and referral agencies; higher education institutions; state departments of education, licensing, health, and other early childhood education related departments.
State Policy Blueprint for an Integrated Professional Development System
This blueprint focuses on the policies that connect professional development activities and that support and make possible an effective implementation of a state system of professional development. It highlights policy principles and essential policy areas that build or sustain an integrated system—a system that ensures quality in all settings in which early childhood professionals work. These principles and highlighted policy areas look beyond the status quo; they are aimed at the development and retention of a competent and stable early childhood workforce—a skilled cadre of effective, diverse, and adequately compensated professionals.
Click here to read more.
State Database of Policies that Meet or Relate to the Blueprint
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The database of state policies is organized by the blueprint’s six essential policy areas of professional standards, career pathways, articulation, advisory structure, data and financing. The database also indicates whether or not state policies apply or address the blueprint’s four over-arching policy principles of integration; quality assurance; diversity, inclusion, and access; and compensation parity.
You can find state policy examples in two ways using this database: looking at states’ policies in each of the essential policy areas or by looking at an individual state for all of its policies that meet or relate to the blueprint.
Additional Activities
Additional project activities include collaboration opportunities for state policy leaders and administrators such as an annual state leadership team summit held in conjunction with NAEYC’s National Institute for Early Childhood Professional Development.
National Summit of States June 2008
Hundreds of leaders from 30 states and national experts participated in Linking sectors, advancing systems: Second annual state professional development leadership team work day pre-conference session at NAEYC’s 17th National Institute for Early Childhood Professional Development in New Orleans, Louisiana. Click here for the press release on this state team work day.
Selected materials from the state team work day
About the Funders
Buffet Early Childhood Fund
Established in 2005, the Buffett Early Childhood Fund is committed to establishing a more level playing field for all children as they enter kindergarten. The Fund invests in young children and their families across America, including policy initiatives such as this new project, through the Birth to Five Policy Alliance.
Additional information about the Buffet Early Childhood Fund is available on the Web at http://www.buffettearlychildhoodfund.org.
Cornerstones for Kids
The mission of Cornerstones for Kids (C4K) is to improve the lives and circumstances of vulnerable children. Created in 2004, Cornerstones for Kids houses and manages the Annie E. Casey Foundation’s Human Services Workforce Initiative. C4K defines the “Human Services Workforce” as the frontline staff in child welfare, juvenile justice, child care, youth development, and employment services.
Additional Information about C4K is available on the Web at http://www.cornerstones4kids.org.
Press release on this new NAEYC project, click here.
NAEYC Resources
Related Links
NAEYC looks forward to sharing more information as this new initiative continues. |
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