The public health issue: Ensuring education and care for all children, starting at birth, supports academic and social development. Early childhood education (ECE) has become part of many policy-related conversations, and lawmakers continue to consider increasing funding for the field. Maintaining a strong and prepared workforce is an essential component in ensuring high quality early childhood education for all young people in the city of Philadelphia.
Solution: The Early Childhood Education Workforce Transformation Initiative (ECEWTI) was formed consisting of R&E Group and partners (see below). ECEWTI team in designed and implemented informed workforce development initiatives to shed light on obstacles reported by ECE center directors, staff and technical assistance personnel. Project findings have helped to inform the development of a strategic plan aimed at offering professional advancement and growth for the city’s ECE staff.
Our contribution:
- Collected data and feedback from ECE staff in Philadelphia
- Designed and disseminated surveys
- Conducted focus groups
- Qualitative feedback coding
- Secondary data analysis
- Data presentation and dissemination
Funder: William Penn Foundation
Partners: PHMC’s Early Childhood Education group; Delaware Valley Association for the Education of Young Children; Montgomery Early Learning Centers