That good teaching requires expert decision
making means that teachers need solid professional
preparation, as well as ongoing professional
development and regular opportunities to work
collaboratively.39 Since this level of preparation
and training does not yet exist for many in the
early childhood workforce, the question of how
best to equip and support inadequately prepared
teachers needs serious investigation. Research on
critical factors in good teaching, as described in
the next section of this statement, has powerful
lessons to offer