Aid for the Workforce

11/21/2007

The world is round so that friendship may encircle it.
Pierre Teilhard de Chardin

Congresswoman Mazie K. Hirono from Hawaii has introduced the Early Education Workforce Act, a bill that would help meet the demand for qualified early education and childcare professionals. "Hawai'i and other states are making real progress in providing families access to voluntary preschool and childcare. But we face a shortage of qualified professionals, and without enough trained teachers and childcare workers, we will not be able to provide quality early education programs and childcare for many children," Congresswoman Hirono said.

To address this shortage, Congresswoman Hirono's legislation helps states take steps to recruit and retain early educators. She proposes providing federal grants to state task forces working on this problem.

"We can attract highly motivated and talented people into early education if we streamline professional development opportunities, open doors to early childhood education degree programs and raise salaries for preschool teachers and childcare workers," Congresswoman Hirono said.

Congresswoman Hirono, who serves on the House Education and Labor Committee, has introduced other legislation this year that also focuses on improving the quality of early childhood education. She introduced the Providing Resources Early for Kid Act, and her proposal to forgive student loans for graduates pursuing careers in early childhood education was included in the College Cost Reduction and Access Act that recently became law.

"I am working hard to improve the quality of early education because the early years are so essential in a child's development. Early education provides a foundation for learning and for success," Congresswoman Hirono explained.

A copy of the text of her floor statement is available here.

Male Workforce Issues Explored in Hawaii

The Working Forum on Men in Early Childhood Education, taking place in Honolulu, Hawaii on May 20 - 23, 2008, will reflect the global surge of interest in changing roles for men and women in the care and education of young children. The Forum will create a global meeting place where women and men from many cultures and nations will reflect on the value of gender balance in ECE, the benefits and barriers to men's full participation, and identification of actions to promote this important issue worldwide. If you register before November 30, 2007, you can take advantage of the discounted early bird registration fee.

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