September 2005

Losing Ground in Early Childhood Education
Declining Workforce Qualifications in an Expanding Industry, 1979-2004

by Stephen Herzenberg, Mark Price, and David Bradley

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Related state-level reports

California:Losing Ground in California Early Childhood Education: Declining Workforce Qualifications in an Expanding Industry, 1980-2004  (Issue Brief #216-A)

Florida:The Low Workforce Qualifications in Florida's Expanding Private Child-care Industry, 1980-2004  (Issue Brief #216-B)

Massachusetts:Losing Ground in Massachusetts Early Childhood Education: Declining Workforce Qualifications in an Expanding Industry, 1980-2004   (Issue Brief #216-C)

New Jersey:Changing Course in New Jersey Early Childhood Education: Decline in Teacher Qualifications Since 1980 Drives Home Need for Industrywide Reform That Builds on Abbott Preschool Programs   (Issue Brief #216-D)

New York:Losing Ground in New York Early Childhood Education: Declining Workforce Qualifications in an Expanding Industry, 1980-2004   (Issue Brief #216-E)

Pennsylvania:Losing Ground in Pennsylvania Early Childhood Education: Declining Workforce Qualifications in an Expanding Industry, 1980-2004   (Issue Brief #216-F)

Wisconsin:Losing Ground in Wisconsin Early Childhood Education: Declining Workforce Qualifications in an Expanding Industry, 1980-2004   (Issue Brief #216-G)

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Authors
Stephen Herzenberg is the executive director of the Keystone Research Center and holds a Ph.D. in economics from MIT. He is a co-author of New Rules for a New Economy: Employment and Opportunity in Postindustrial America, published in 1998 by Cornell/ILR Press.

Mark Price is a labor economist at Keystone Research Center. He has completed his Ph.D. dissertation in economics at the University of Utah and will shortly receive his diploma.

David Bradley is a policy analyst with the State Fiscal Project at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP) in Washington D.C. Prior to joining the CBPP, Bradley worked for nearly four years as a policy analyst for the Keystone Research Center. He holds a Ph.D. in political science from the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill.

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Economic Policy Institute
The Economic Policy Institute is a nonprofit, nonpartisan think tank that seeks to broaden the public debate about strategies to achieve a prosperous and fair economy. The Institute stresses real world analysis and a concern for the living standards of working people, and it makes its findings accessible to the general public, the media, and policy makers. EPI's books, studies, and popular education materials address important economic issues, analyze pressing problems facing the U.S. economy, and propose new policies.

The Foundation for Child Development
This report was made possible by generous support from the Foundationfor Child Development. The Foundation for Child Development (FCD) is a national private philanthropy in New York City dedicated to promoting a new beginning for public education from pre-kindergarten through third grade. The Foundation promotes the wellbeing of children, and believes that families, schools, nonprofit organizations, businesses, and government at all levels share complementary responsibilities in the critical task of raising new generations. To learn more about FCD and its programs, please visit its Web site at www.fcd-us.org.

The Keystone Research Center
The Keystone Research Center (KRC), headquartered in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, was founded in 1996 to broaden public discussion on strategies to achieve a more prosperous and equitable Pennsylvania economy. The Keystone Research Center welcomes questions or other inquiries about its work at 717-255-7181, or toll free at 888-618-2055.