Article Link: http://exchangepress.com/article/increasing-access-to-high-quality-ece-degrees/5023786/
In 2015, the Institute of Medicine and the National Research Council issued a report, Transforming the Workforce for Children Birth through Age 8: A Unifying Foundation1, which advocated for a more coherent policy framework for workforce standards and preparation based on the science of child development, in order to improve the consistency, continuity, and quality of early learning experiences for children. The report calls for moving to a minimum bachelor’s degree with specialized knowledge and competencies for all lead teachers. The report recommends seven principles to support quality professional practice, including these four:
- Professionals need foundational and specific competencies.
- Professionals need to be able to support diverse populations.
- Professional learning systems need to develop and sustain professional competencies.
- Practice environments need to enable high-quality practice.
Seven recommendations were made in the report to address the challenge of truly transforming the ECE workforce. In this article we will take a deeper look at two of those recommendations:
Developing comprehensive pathways for transitioning to a minimum bachelor’s degree qualifications requirement, with specialized knowledge and competencies for all lead educators working with children from birth through age 8. We’ll provide examples for creating degree pathways and increasing access.
Developing and enhancing programs in higher education for care and education professionals. We’ll take a look at how one college ...