Trust for Learning

Ideal Pathways - How Ideal Learning Approaches Prepare and Support Early Childhood Educators

Members of the Ideal Learning Roundtable work at the nexus of equity and quality in early childhood education, united by a commitment to core principles of dynamic, developmental, play-based, child-led, relational early learning. A new report analyzes these innovative models in the context of COVID-19, waning enrollment in traditional colleges and universities, financial barriers, and ongoing efforts to advance racial equity. Please read and share!

High-quality educators are paramount to create thriving, sustainable environments for young children’s growth and development. A child’s interactions with their parent, caregiver, and teacher are critical in helping them to connect with the world, express themselves, and develop the knowledge and skills they will need throughout their life. To facilitate these healthy interactions, adults need specific skills, knowledge, and dispositions that enable children to build the foundation for lifelong learning and wellbeing. Yet, in many under-resourced communities, there is a lack of well-trained, well-compensated educators who reflect the populations that they serve.

To support a more inclusive, equitable, and sustainable workforce practiced in essential child development principles and practices, the Ideal Learning Roundtable, in partnership with Trust for Learning, embarked on a project to document key features (e.g. cost, duration, demographics, etc.) of eleven early educator development pathways affiliated with high-quality early childhood programs. The resulting Ideal Pathways report captures data, trends, and challenges across this range of early childhood education models serving children birth - 8. The report summarizes findings about the patchwork of funding, higher education, and state regulations that perpetuate systemic inequities for educators in different settings and communities and, subsequently, the children they serve. It concludes with actionable recommendations for funders, policymakers, and others to advance a more inclusive workforce that aspires to our highest ideals for children and communities.