The Need for Early Childhood Education

Early childhood is a critical period where children undergo rapid brain development that influences their learning, cognition, and personality. Early childhood education (ECE) plays an important role in assisting children during these formative years, facilitating their acquisition of academic and social skills.

The exact definition of early childhood varies, depending on whom you are talking to. Some use the term to refer to anytime up until age 8, while others apply it to the period between birth and kindergarten.

The United States Department of Education does not mandate ECE, as it does with elementary and secondary education. However, ECE remains a crucial stage of learning for young children. The United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) emphasizes that ECE extends beyond its traditional role as preparation for school, as it also addresses the needs of children while they’re growing up and builds a solid foundation that impacts their lifelong well-being.

Today, 62 percent of children around the world are enrolled in ECE. Yet this statistic falls to a meager 20 percent in developing, low-income nations. This significant discrepancy demonstrates inequalities in access to ECE related to geography and socioeconomic status.

Fortunately, implementation of ECE programs is on the rise. One of UNESCO’s sustainable development goals is to ensure that all children have access to quality ECE by 2030. To this end, UNESCO collaborates with governments to integrate ECE components into national educational sectors.

In the United States, ECE is gaining popularity, with several states actively developing programs to boost ECE teaching credentials. For example, in June 2022, California and Illinois considered new ECE credentials for teachers. The California Commission on Teacher Credentialing announced a potential ECE specialist credential that allows teachers to teach transitional kindergarten. To acquire the credential, teachers need to complete 24 units of ECE courses and pass the Reading Instruction Comprehension Assessment.

Meanwhile, in Illinois, the Governor’s Office of Early Childhood Development created the Infant-Toddler Credential, a new competency-based curriculum catering to the rising need for an effective ECE workforce credentialing system. According to registry data, 38 percent of the state’s infant-toddler teachers lack an academic degree altogether, and only 29 percent have a bachelor’s degree. The new credential aims to better prepare current and future educators to deliver quality ECE and improve learning outcomes for children.

Requirements vary across states, but many ECE teachers obtain a bachelor’s or associate degree in ECE and then pursue an official teaching credential. A variety of educational institutions offer such credentials.

For instance, the Council for Professional Recognition provides aspiring ECE teachers with a Childhood Development Associate (CDA), which they can tailor to their area of focus through training programs. Training programs can take place in various settings, including family homes, military bases, and preschool centers.

ECE credentials can facilitate employment in preschools, Montessori schools, and kindergartens. Teachers with ECE qualifications can also practice their skills in a wide range of job positions. In addition to working as preschool teachers, they are eligible to apply for early intervention specialist, family service staff, and administrator positions.