Video Library

CAYL Catalyst Ep. #54:
Progress and Possibilities – A 10-year Look Back on Transforming the Workforce

Recorded on November 6, 2025

10 years ago, the National Research Council issued its landmark report Transforming the Workforce for Children Birth Through Age 8: A Unifying Foundation. Spanning more than 700 pages, the report offered a sweeping analysis of the early childhood field and concluded with thirteen bold recommendations—calling for new standards, stronger systems, and greater investment in the professionals who shape children’s earliest years.

But nearly ten years later, where do we stand? What progress has been made toward these big ideas—and where have the challenges persisted? In this timely webinar, we’ll revisit the report’s core recommendations and examine how today’s shifting policy environment is shaping their trajectory.

Together, we’ll ask: How are we faring on the vision set forth in 2015? What priorities are emerging as the field navigates new realities? And what might come next for the workforce that is foundational to every child’s future?

Featuring:
–Dr. Jacqueline Jones – Policy Maker, Researcher, and Educator
–Dr. Ola Friday – Executive Director, The Early Educator Investment Collaborative
–Dr. Lea J.E. Austin – Early Care and Education System and Workforce Expert
-Hosted by Dr. Valora Washington – CEO & President, The CAYL Institute

Featured Resources

From The CAYL Institute:

CAYL Catalyst Ep. #31 – Moonshot: Every ECE Job is a Good Job

The New Early Childhood Professional: A Step-by-Step Guide to Overcoming Goliath by Dr. Valora Washington, Brenda Gadson, Kathryn L. Amel

Panelist Resources:

Child Development and Early Learning: A Foundation for Professional Knowledge and Competencies (The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, Medicine)

Report in Brief for Policymakers: Transforming the Workforce for Children Birth Through Age 8: A Unifying Foundation (The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, Medicine)

Early Childhood Workforce Index 2024 (CSCCE)

Early Care and Education Justice Toolkit (CSCCE)

Early Childhood History, Organizing, Ethos, and Strategy Project (CSCCE)

Improving Early Childhood Educator Preparation and Compensation – Early Educator Investment Collaborative

Feasibility Study NLTC – Early Educator Investment Collaborative

Mary Pauper: A Historical Exploration of Early Care and Education Compensation, Policy, and Solutions – Early Educator Investment Collaborative

In Our Hands Narrative Change Campaign – Early Educator Investment Collaborative

A Decade of Change Series – Early Educator Investment Collaborative

Transforming Early Childhood Education – Early Educator Investment Collaborative 2021 – 2024 Fund Report: Making the Case for a Focus on the Workforce

Learning Community – Early Educator Investment Collaborative

Community of Practice – Early Educator Investment Collaborative