The knowledge and skills of teachers are among the most important
factors in determining how much a young child learns.
Studies in Texas, Alabama, and New York of K-12 teachers concluded
that “teachers’ qualifications (based on measures of
knowledge, education, and experience) account for a larger share
of the variance in students’ achievement than any other single
factor” (Darling-Hammond et al., 1999:228). What early childhood
teachers know and are able to do is one of the major influences on
the learning and development of young children. Clearly, the
preparation and ongoing professional development of teachers in
early childhood education and care is fundamental to the vision
expressed in this report.