Blog Post |
A key CLI initiative, the Texas Early Childhood Professional Development System (TECPDS), has worked diligently to meet the professional development needs of those working in the early childhood field since its beginnings in the 1990s. Beyond its impacts on individual workforce members and users, TECPDS offers stakeholders opportunities to learn about the composition and characteristics of the early childhood workforce. However, it is evident that a deeper understanding of the characteristics, roles, and professional experiences of individuals working across the early childhood sector is needed to transition data into action: What resources will help workforce members explore and actualize their early childhood career advancement?
With support from the Texas Workforce Commission, CLI, through TECPDS, is currently conducting a multi-phase Career Pathways and Trajectories study that includes roles across the early childhood education and development field, including education, healthcare, social services, and early intervention. By examining a wide range of positions, TECPDS aims to understand the career pathways and trajectories available within this interconnected field.
TECPD’s goal is to support individuals with an interest or expertise in early childhood education and development to identify career opportunities that allow them to contribute more to the field in areas that pique their interest. TECPDS also hopes that through this study, the early childhood field will gain a deeper understanding of the best strategies to promote workforce stability, support professional growth, and strengthen the long-term impact across sectors serving young children.
For Phase I, 2,360 professionals participated in surveys and interviews. This extensive data collection covered the following areas, as described below:
- Participant Data (demographics, job roles)
- Education (educational attainment, credentials awarded, and years of experience)
- Wages (annual wage data)
- Benefits (Paid time off, insurance, financial benefits)
- Employment Characteristics (hours worked, number of jobs)
- Motivations & Perceptions (rewarding and challenging aspects of career)
- Retention & Attrition (likelihood to stay in their role or move on to a new role in or outside the field)
As Phase I comes to a close, the TECPDS team is working to deepen its understanding of this crucial field in Phase II. The content itself will help workforce members better understand the potential roles that match their interests and qualifications. It will help policymakers and employers better understand the system- and employer-driven factors that lead to successful recruitment and retention of the workforce. At no cost, by August 2026, TECPDS will deliver two core offerings:
- Digestible digital and print resources that introduce and explain different roles in early childhood, including clear summaries of Phase I findings.
- Counseling and professional learning community session scripts that specialists can use to guide conversations, workshops, and career-mapping activities.
CLI anticipates the expanded use of this survey to enhance TECPDS’ standing as a vital resource for the Texas early childhood community. As workforce members are drawn to the new content, the likelihood of them engaging with other TECPDS resources increases.
Learn more about the TECPDS Career Pathway study by clicking the button below!