Strategic Plan

Support diversity, equity, and inclusion in the early childhood care and education workforce.

6.3.1   Establish financial incentives to support the recruitment, retention, and advancement of a diverse workforce.

6.3.2   Support culturally, linguistically, and diverse-ability-appropriate materials in professional development(Early childhood education professional development is a continuum of learning and support activities designed to prepare individuals for work with and on behalf of young children and their families, as well as ongoing experiences to enhance this work. These opportunities lead to improvements in the knowledge, skills, practices, and dispositions of early education professionals. Professional development encompasses education, training, and technical assistance(Technical Assistance (TA) is the provision of targeted and customized aid to develop or strengthen processes, knowledge application, or implementation of services by a professional(s) with subject matter expertise and skills in adult learning practices.).) opportunities, facilities, playgrounds, and other learning spaces.

6.3.3   Implement professional development programs that increase workplace diversity, equity, and inclusion practices to ensure early childhood environments are responsive to and supportive of a diverse workforce.

What do these icons mean(To help Kansans see themselves as key contributors to the important work ahead, each tactic displays one or more icons representing where stakeholders can have impact.)?

The Children’s Cabinet formally adopted an equity statement, and equity serves as a guiding principle in the All in for Kansas Kids Strategic Plan. Several organizations and providers who received PDG Quality Subgrants are using the funding to purchase culturally-competent learning materials or are offering retention bonuses and insurance stipends. The Workforce Development Advisory Group has a subcommittee focused on expanding equity, inclusion, and diversity trainings, opportunities, and shared learning experiences for the early childhood workforce, with the hope of making recommendations to the broader system.

The Kansas Racial Equity Collaborative is a statewide effort to understand the history of racial inequities in child welfare and to define the problem through a shared language.

The Kansas Early Learning Standards (KELS) Revision Team is working to better integrate equity into the KELS through a review and revision process.

Even with strides made in this area, more effort is needed to recruit, retain, and support a diverse early childhood