This week we are focusing on the early education workforce, and we wanted to share a new resource from the think tank New America.

In December, New America released “Transforming the Early Education Workforce: A Multimedia Guidebook.”

Using video, text, a questionnaire, and other tools, the guidebook builds on the landmark 2015 workforce report released by the National Institute of Medicine and the National Research Council.

“Each state, community, and program is starting at different place,” New America explains. “Without guidance, taking on this work can feel overwhelming.

One featured video covers challenges that the workforce faces.

“They might drive for Uber in the afternoon. They’re working side jobs and they are still trying to do work that they have to do here,” Quinetta Lewis, a preschool director in Oakland, Calif., says of her school’s teachers.

Other guidebook topics include:

• the interaction of biology and environment in children’s lives

• the importance of continuity for child from birth through third grade

• factors that contribute to quality professional practices, and

• a blueprint for taking action on key workforce issues such as professional development, higher education, and leadership

There is also information that is specifically tailored for:

• educators who work with children

• educators in higher education, and

• policymakers

The featured videos, including several from Harvard’s Center of the Developing Child, are posted here.

If you live in Massachusetts, please use these tools in your advocacy. Last year, Governor Baker and the Legislature funded a historic rate increase for early educators, and this year early signs from the governor and House Speaker Robert DeLeo indicate that more support could be on the way. We need to keep this momentum going.

Also, be sure to share your opinion of these resources with New America because:

“We intend for this to be a living project and welcome feedback. As you come across resources or tools that would be helpful for the field please let us know.”