Professional development is essential for supporting the growth and effectiveness of early care and education (ECE) professionals, including teachers, caregivers, administrators, and support staff. It enhances early educators’ knowledge, skills, and practices to better meet the needs of young childreni and families. It is essential for building a skilled and knowledgeable workforce that can provide high-quality, responsive, and supportive care and education to young children and familiesii. The following are key elements of high-quality professional development in early childhood education:
- Ongoing learning and growth through various formal and informal opportunities such as workshops, seminars, conferences, webinars, courses, and trainings offered by educational institutions, professional organizations, government agencies, and community-based organizationsiii.
- Building educators' pedagogical knowledge and understanding of child development, early learning theories, and best practices in early childhood educationiv. This includes knowledge of how young children learn; how to create developmentally appropriate learning experiences; and how to effectively support children's social-emotional, cognitive, language, and physical developmentv.
- Supporting and training educators in implementing high-quality curriculum and instructional practices such as training on play-based learning, inquiry-based teaching, literacy and numeracy instruction, STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics) education, and culturally responsive teaching practices.
- Developing skills in child assessment, observation, and documentationvi to monitor children's progress, identify individual strengths and needs, and plan appropriate interventions and support strategies. This includes understanding various assessment tools and methods, interpreting assessment data, and using assessment information to inform teaching practices and decision-making.
- Fostering positive social-emotional developmentvii in young children and supporting their emotional well-being through training on creating nurturing and supportive classroom environments, implementing positive behavior management strategies, promoting social skills and emotional regulation, and supporting children who may have experienced trauma or adversity.
- Building strong partnerships with familiesviii and involving them in their children's education and development including effective communication, strategies for engaging families in their children's learning, and understanding and respecting diverse family backgrounds, cultures, and perspectives.
- Promoting inclusive practicesix that support the diverse needs of all children, including those with disabilities, developmental delays, or special needs, and children from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.
- Developing leadership and advocacy skills within the early childhood professionx, including effective leadership practices, program administration, promoting early childhood policies and funding, and advancing the profession's role in supporting children and families.
Resources Required
Dedicated time for job-embedded professional growth opportunities is the most important resource for implementing this strategy. Shortages in the ECE workforce have negatively impacted the ability to provide collaborative planning and coaching time, and to secure substitutes to cover for ECE professionals to participate in training during the work week. Relevant needs assessment tools and processes such as classroom observations can determine priority areas for professional growth. Trained coaches and other technical assistance providers may be available for free or may come with a cost to programs.
