IDEAS AND EVIDENCE 2021 - Investing in Equitable Access to High-Quality

IDEAS AND EVIDENCE 2021 Investing in Equitable Access to High-Quality Early Care and Education By Meghan McCormick OCTOBER 2020 MDRC is dedicated to learning what works to improve the well-being of people in poverty. [...] At the same time, inconsistent investment in the quality of early care and education leads to wide variations in pro- fessional development and quality standards. [...] RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE FUTURE In addition to providing emergency funding to early care and education programs, policymakers might consider the following recommendations: ■ In areas where multiple options are available, support efforts to provide clear and transparent information on how to choose and enroll in high-quality early care and education programs, especially to families with low incomes. [...] Importantly, the implementation and development of high-quality programs also rely on the recruitment, development, and retention of a talented early care and edu- cation workforce. [...] An upcoming brief will provide more information on key workforce challenges facing the field and recommendations for supporting the development of high-quality early care and education teachers and staff in the years to come.