"Covering Early Childhood Learning: Teacher Quality in Early Education"

Examining teacher quality -- a complicated topic at any grade level -- can be particularly challenging when it comes to early childhood education. Requirements for educators vary across states, and degree-granting programs in early education are scarce, says Marci Young, project director of The Pew Center on the States’ Pre-K Now.

The water becomes murkier still when a reporter considers the wide variety of programs for young children: preschool, center-based child care, family-based child care, relative or neighbor supervision. Families have different expectations and definitions of a “quality” program, says Pilar Torres, founder and executive director of Centro Familia. For example, a family whose first language is not English may consider the cultural atmosphere of a program before traditional academics in the early years, Torres says.

So what should a reporter look for when it comes to teacher quality in early childhood education? Start here:

• Ask about degrees and/or specialized training. A lack of preparation can lead to both low pay and high teacher turnover, Young says. Even if teachers have a degree in education, it won’t give them the training they need to relate to young children. If educators face financial challenges or language barriers to gaining higher degrees, are there programs to help them?
   
• Look at student outcomes. Are students prepared for kindergarten at the completion of the program? This can be difficult to track, since early education and K-12 data is not often stored in the same system. Do local centers have access to students’ data after students leave for elementary school?
   
• Consider both traditional and alternative indicators of quality. Traditional quality may include teacher qualifications, program regulations and curriculum. Alternative quality may include parent involvement, culture/language and connections to the community.
   

RESOURCES
National Institute for Early Education Research
National Association for the Education of Young Children
The National Association for Family Child Care
Pre-K Now
Centro Familia

Rachel Abbey is a reporter for Catalyst Ohio. She was a fellow for the 2009 JCCF seminar, "Ladder of Success: Covering Early Learning."