Stronger Workforce

Research indicates that all young children benefit from high-quality early learning experiences.

The Foundation for Child Development believes that the quality of early care and education (ECE) programs depends on a diverse ECE workforce that is adequately compensated and supported. These dedicated individuals, including lead teachers, teacher assistants, home-based providers, coaches, master teachers, and administrators, play an integral role in fostering children's learning. Their interactions and the enriching, nurturing learning environments they create are fundamental to achieving positive outcomes for every child.

Within this frame, the Foundation launched a 10-year initiative in 2015 dedicated to supporting the workforce and identifying and promoting research, policy, and practice to:

  • Advance the status and well-being of the ECE workforce;
  • Support the quality of practice of the ECE workforce; and
  • Strengthen ECE leadership to create more supportive environments for the workforce.
  • 2024 Young Scholars Program Call for Proposals

    The Foundation for Child Development is currently accepting proposals for its 2024 Young Scholars Program (YSP). YSP supports scholarship for early-career researchers.

    April 18, 2023 • Read More
  • Featured Sessions at the AERA 2023 Annual Meeting

    The Foundation for Child Development invites you to attend four sessions highlighting our work at the American Educational Research Association’s 2023 Annual Meeting in Chicago, April 13 – 16. The 2023 theme is “Interrogating Consequential Education Research in Pursuit of Truth.” Compensation for the Workforce: The History, The Policies, Attempts At Increase, and the Teacher’s POV Date and Time Thursday, April 13, 2:50 – 4:20PM CDT Symposium Session Description Compensation for the early care and education (ECE) workforce is predicated on a history of racism, sexism, and classism that has plagued the United States for centuries.

    April 11, 2023 • Read More
  • A Transformative Vision for the Authentic Inclusion of FCC in Mixed-Delivery Pre-K Systems

    Foundation for Child Development Grants in Action Erikson Institute’s Pre-K in Family Child Care Project (PKFCC) promotes opportunities to ensure equitable access to high-quality early learning settings for children and families.

    January 24, 2023 • Read More
  • Roundtable Discussion: Helping Practitioners Understand and Utilize ECE Implementation Research in Their Daily Practice

    This roundtable webinar addresses issues related to the preparation of early educators and the role of research in their practice.

    June 30, 2022 • Read More
  • Getting it Right: The Conversation Guide for Preparing the Next Generation of ECE Practitioners

    The Foundation for Child Development is excited to announce the release of Getting it Right: The Conversation Guide for Preparing the Next Generation of ECE Practitioners.

    June 7, 2022 • Read More
  • 2023 Young Scholars Program Call for Proposals

    The Foundation for Child Development is currently accepting proposals for its 2023 Young Scholars Program (YSP). YSP supports scholarship for early-career researchers.

    April 7, 2022 • Read More
  • Dr. James P. Comer: His Work & Relevance for Today

    Dr. James P. Comer is a leading child psychiatrist who has served as the Maurice Falk Professor of Child Psychiatry at the Yale Child Study Center since 1976.

    March 15, 2022 • Read More
  • New Research on the History of Racial Inequities in ECE Workforce Compensation, Preparation, and Stability

    Foundation for Child Development Grants in Action As a member of The Early Educator Investment Collaborative, the Foundation is pleased to share the report, Mary Pauper: A Historical Exploration of Early Care and Education Compensation, Policy, and Solutions.

    March 11, 2022 • Read More