Voices from the Field: Collaborative Innovations in Early Childhood Educator Preparation

This monograph presents the perspectives of Illinois higher education faculty in early childhood educator preparation programs, 2014-2016, as they navigated a variety of changing state and national contests to create partnerships and programs to support the education and credentialing of the state's early childhood workforce. The authors' collective voices provide important insights into the opportunities and challenges associated with designing and implementing programs for early childhood education (ECE) students, many of whom are working professionals in the field, with the goal of providing flexible pathways that support attainment of industry-recognized credentials aligned with associate and baccalaureate degrees. While instructive for the early childhood field itself, this monograph illustrates important lessons and promising strategies that may also promote degree and credential attainment for the broader arena of higher education.