https://www.fcd-us.org/losing-ground-in-early-childhood-education-declining-workforce-qualifications-in-an-expanding-industry-1979-2004/
Since the early 1980s, there has been a large dip in the qualifications of the center-based early childhood workforce nationwide. Thirty percent of teachers and administrators now have a high school diploma or less, according to a comprehensive new report published by the Economic Policy Institute, the Keystone Research Center, and the Foundation for Child Development. Low pay has made it hard for the early childhood education (ECE) field to hold onto experienced teachers with proper training and educational background. Data is available on qualifications and pay in 39 states along with companion reports for CA, FL, MA, NJ, NY, PA, WI.