Another important index of quality is early childhood
educators’ level of education, which has been proven to
affect the quality of program delivered (Allhusen and
Clarke-Stewart 2001; Azer et al. 2002; Azzi-Lessing 2009;
Committee on Early Childhood, Adoption, and Dependent
Care 2005; De Schipper et al. 2007; Dwyer et al. 2000;
Honig and Hirralla 1998; Kreader et al. 2005; Lowe Vandell
and Wolfe 2000; Melhuish 2004; NAEYC 2005;
NICHD Early Child Care Research Network 1996; Powell
and Bingham 2002; Roseman 1999; Saracho and Spodek
2007). Early childhood educators of our sample are, in their
majority, graduates of universities and TEI’s, which both
offer 4 years of studies.