Page 22 - Gateways for Early Educators

Gateways for Early Educators
percent with a BA or higher, or about 36 percent with any college degree.xxxiv In fact, local data from Los Angeles County in 2006 reflects this with 99.9% of center-based teachers having had completed at least some college, 56.9% having some college degree – AA degree or higher, and 26.2% having a bachelor’s degree or higher. xxxv However, more recent, national data from the NSECE shows a higher degree of educational attainment with more than half (53%) of center classroom teachers and caregivers holding some level of college degree, with one-quarter (26%) having a four-year degree and 9 percent a graduate or professional degree.xxxvi This differed by age group served with greater educational attainment for those serving children age three through five years (45% with at least a BA degree) as compared to those serving younger children (19% with at least a BA degree). In contrast, more than a quarter (28%) of teachers and caregivers serving children younger than three had a high-school diploma or less compared to 13% percent of teachers and caregivers serving children three to five years of age.
In addition the educational attainment of home-based providers in the NSECE was fairly high with 65.7% having some college or higher, with 15.7% with a BA or higher (similar to the center- based staff who serve children 0-3 years). The 2006 study of Family Child Care Providers (FCC) in Los Angeles County showed that 68% of family child care providers had some college or higher and 13.9% had a BA or higher.xxxvii
As seen in Table 1, results from the administrative data analysis show that FCC participants closely mirror those referred to as “listed” home-based caregivers in the NSECE (this group is the one most closely aligned with licensed FCC providers in California). Approximately one-third (30.9%) of FCC providers in this sample and the NSECE sample have a High School Diploma or less, approximately another one-third have some college units (37.5%). This sample has slightly fewer providers with an AA degree (12.5% compared with 16% nationally) and about the same with a Bachelor’s and above (17.3% compared with 16% nationally). However, when comparing the entire sample of participants, this sample has fewer participants with any college degree (35.0% compared with 53% nationally). However, this may be a reflection of the Gateways sample in that the program enrolls providers who are also legally exempt from licensing and this population does not require any college education. In sum, the sample of Family Child Care providers in Gateways is reflective of a national sample in terms of their highest level of educational attainment.
2016
Table 1. Educational Attainment of Gateways Participants
Family Child Care Center-Based All Gateways ECE Professionals Professionals Professionals
Highest Level of Education Completed by ECE Professionals
High School
AA / AS
MA / MS or PhD
Total 566
Percent (n)
Percent (n)
4.6% (14) 16.2% (49) 5.3% (16) 303
Percent (n)
12.3% (125) 13.1% (133) 3.6% (37) 1,015
Less than a High School Degree
16.4% (93) 4.6% (14) 12.9% (131)
14.5% (82) 12.5% (71) 3.0% (17)
Some College
37.5% (212) 40.9% (124) 38.4% (390)
BA / BS
14.3% (81) 27.4% (83) 18.3% (186)
Unknown
1.8% (10) 1.0% (3) 1.3% (13)
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