Good Beginnings is proud to present Hawaii-based publications that will provide our community with information and strategies that will ensure that all of Hawaii’s children are safe, healthy, and ready to succeed.
How many children are in need? How much money does the state allocate for preventive early childhood programs? How many teachers in early childhood programs have their degrees? At Good Beginnings we believe it is essential to answer these and many other questions to accurately set a course to improve the well being of young children.
The Hawaii Early Childhood Workforce Study, ”Who Cares for Hawaii’s Keiki in Centers?” began in 2000. Good Beginnings in partnership with Ho’owaiwai Na Kamalii distributed surveys to nearly 400 center-based early childhood centers in Hawaii. The responses have provided Hawaii with specific and current data on qualifications and compensation levels of the early childhood workforce; training and educational needs of these specific workforce; enrollment, capacity and demands of early childhood centers; and utilization rates for early childhood services.
This report explores key policy and design issues for Hawaii to consider in developing a compensation initiative. The report also provides an overview of current and recent initiatives launched in other states.
This study shows that early childhood education, as an industry cluster, is a critical component of healthy economies - a component that creates jobs, generates local income, and enables parents to work and local businesses to thrive.