Our Publications
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An Actionable Research Agenda for Strengthening the ECE Workforce
In this resource, the National ECE Workforce Center synthesizes over three years of learnings from our research and technical assistance activities into a research agenda that can answer critical, timely questions in the areas of compensation and career advancement. This research agenda is designed for researchers who aim to fill gaps in the field’s knowledge…
Published 2026
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Using the Systems Change Framework to Create Intentional Change with and for the ECE Workforce
The Change Framework focuses on three aims based on the most immediate challenges facing the ECE workforce. It takes a systems level approach for achieving the three aims. Specifically, it identifies nine related primary drivers that research has identified as impacting the practices, infrastructure, and principles that shape systems.
Published 2026
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Early Findings From Three States Working to Strengthen ECE Workforce Compensation
The National ECE Workforce Center equips leaders to drive policy change through Action Research Partnerships (ARP). Grounded in the Change Framework, the ARP model advances fair compensation, accessible career pathways, and positive working conditions. This case study shares early findings from Connecticut, Maryland, and Minnesota as they address compensation challenges. The brief examines Change Team…
Published 2025
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Early Care and Education Workforce Relevant Resources
These documents provide curated lists of resources from the National ECE Workforce Center’s ongoing environmental scan. We gathered the resources via literature database searches and expert review of ECE-focused websites, blog posts, and listservs. To support leaders and researchers, we categorized our findings by the Center’s five key topic areas:
Published 2025
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The ECE Workforce Systems Change Framework: Reflection Tool
The ECE Workforce Systems Change Framework: Reflection Tool is a practical resource designed to help leaders put the Change Framework into action. By fostering collaborative dialogue, the tool enables users to examine their local context, diagnose system gaps, and identify strategic leverage points to improve ECE workforce systems. Used periodically, it helps change leaders monitor…
Published 2025
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Strengthening Wage Scale Development in New Mexico Through a Systems Change Approach
This report explores how the National ECE Workforce Center partnered with New Mexico to drive meaningful systems change in a year-long Action Research Partnership (2024–2025). Focused on improving early care and education (ECE) career ladders, compensation, and workplace policies, the project applied the Center’s Change Framework to evaluate progress and identify key facilitators and barriers…
Published 2025
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ECE Apprentices’ Experiences Across Five Registered Apprenticeship Programs
This brief takes an in-depth look at five apprenticeship programs in California—how they are designed, the challenges and opportunities they faced in designing and implementing their programs, and the elements they identify as necessary for implementation. This brief is intended to help state and local leaders discern if an apprenticeship is appropriate for their context…
Published 2025
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Work Environments Affect Early Educators’ Career Decisions
This research-to-practice brief summarizes findings from two studies conducted by the Center for the Study of Child Care Employment on how early educators’ work environments may influence their career decisions. The studies look at how the multifaceted nature of work environments influence early educators’ plans to stay in their jobs or in the ECE field.…
Published 2025
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Driving Systems Change in the ECE Workforce via Early Educator Engagement and Leadership
Systems change requires authentic educator engagement and leadership, which ensures that educators have meaningful influence and decision-making power. This brief reviews the importance of engaging educators for creating systems change in early care and education (ECE). It highlights strategies for creating conditions that foster educator engagement and shows how early educators are stepping into leadership…
Published 2025
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Multi-Sector & Multi-Partner Collaboration in Systems Change for the ECE Workforce
The early care and education (ECE) workforce faces complex and persistent challenges that cannot be solved by one entity alone. This research-to-practice brief discusses the importance of grounding ECE workforce systems change in collaborative efforts between agencies, sectors, and programs at multiple levels. It outlines best practices and strategies for building and sustaining multi-sector and…
Published 2025