Article Link: http://exchangepress.com/article/english-language-learning-adults-an-essential-part-of-the-ece-workforce/5024960/
The field of early childhood is undergoing a national process of professionalization. States are navigating workforce related issues as they align to the changing landscape, many of which have to do with the ongoing education of individuals in the field. Higher expectations are being set for ECE staff in regards to the training and education requirements needed for employment in high-quality centers. As an ECE director of a nonprofit urban center with diverse staff, I believe that it is essential that training programs and higher education programs for ECE professionals recognize that dual language learning adults are essential members of our workforce. In fact, we need to go beyond recognizing this and work to understand what this means for the institutions that are providing the education and training mandated for the workforce. We need to co-create ways to bring our English language learning workforce into this conversation, secure an understanding of the learning needs of this community of teachers, respond with innovative and appropriate ways to accommodate their needs, and bridge gaps that may exist between those needs and the requirements of our training and educational systems. As we professionalize the field, the intersection of the needs of all of ...