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November 2023 |
By Anna Powell, Wanzi Muruvi, Lea J.E. Austin, and Abby Copeman Petig
First 5 LA partnered with the Center for the Study of Child Care Employment to produce this longitudinal report that details the trends and challenges facing the early education workforce in L.A. County since the pandemic and the expansion of the state’s transitional kindergarten program. Surveys were conducted in 2020 and 2023, revealing longitudinal trends and highlighting factors at both individual and site levels.
The report emphasizes workforce trends, program-level changes since 2020, and educator well-being. Notable findings include the majority of educators maintaining their roles since 2020, challenges in hiring program leaders, and differences in future plans among FCC providers and center teachers. Program-level changes indicate declines in FCC enrollment and staffing challenges in child care centers, while the expansion of transitional kindergarten (TK) has impacted enrollment but not staffing significantly. Educator well-being findings show high levels of stress among center teachers, assistants, and FCC providers, with variations across demographic groups.
Insightful for policymakers, professionals in the early childhood ecosystem, and public system leaders, the data highlights ways in which we can work together to strengthen Los Angele County’s center- and family-based child care systems to deliver healthier and more stable conditions for the workforce that cares for our youngest residents.
Download, “The Early Care and Education Workforce and Workplace in Los Angeles County: A Longitudinal Analysis” as a PDF here.
