Transforming Early Years Policy in the U.S.: A Call to Action

This collection provides an accessible discussion and analysis of urgent policy issues in early childhood care and education in the US, including fragmented policy systems, low pay, inequitable standards, and community contexts. It offers practice-based recommendations and an advocacy toolkit to transform inequitable systems, with a focus on the perspectives of Black, Indigenous, and other People of Color.

Format: Hardback
Length: 224 pages
Publication date: 24 February 2023
Publisher: Teachers' College Press

This comprehensive collection offers a timely and accessible exploration of some of the most pressing policy issues confronting early childhood care and education in the United States. Fragmented policy systems, a broad disregard for early years professionals, inadequate standards that fail to promote equity, and an oversight of the role of community contexts in perpetuating or mitigating social inequalities among children are among the critical concerns addressed. Contributors, drawn from diverse backgrounds as educators, scholars, and advocates, draw upon their deep personal experiences to provide practical recommendations for transforming the nation's inequitable systems. Supported by an accessible and powerful advocacy toolkit, their call to collective action is rooted in the perspectives of Black, Indigenous, and other People of Color, with a particular focus on the impact of systemic racism, ageism, sexism, classism, and related oppressions on early years policies and programs.

The book features concise essays that acknowledge the constraints of contemporary readers' time. It brings together authors from various fields, fostering a rich dialogue among them. Personal stories embedded within the essays vividly illustrate how policies and systems affect individuals, underscoring the urgent need for transformative changes in early care and education policies. The call for action is reinforced by practical tools that facilitate the connection between personal reflection and collective action.

By delving into these complex issues and presenting actionable solutions, this book serves as a valuable resource for educators, policymakers, advocates, and anyone interested in improving the well-being and outcomes of young children and their families. It emphasizes the importance of recognizing and addressing the systemic inequalities that perpetuate disparities in early care and education, and provides a roadmap for building a more equitable and inclusive system for all children.

Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780807768150