The Heising-Simons Foundation is pleased to announce the creation of the Early Educator Investment Collaborative (EEIC), a group of early childhood funders working to advance the highest standards of educator quality, support educators’ preparation and professional learning, and achieve professional compensation that reflects the transformational value of early childhood educators.

Helping all early educators achieve their full potential as professionals is critical to preparing all children for success in school and life. When our youngest learners lack access to quality early childhood educators, achievement gaps are created long before children attend kindergarten, especially among children from low-income families. Skilled educators and caregivers are essential for helping parents develop the potential in their young children.

EEIC will work with its grantees, the early education field, higher education, and policymakers to set the highest standards for educator competencies that lead to positive child outcomes. Guided by the recommendations from The Institute of Medicine’s report to transform the early childhood workforce, as well as the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine’s report on early childhood financing, EEIC will work to create equitable and affordable access to teacher preparation and professional development, and to align them with increased compensation for all early educators.

EEIC’s Steering Committee currently includes Ballmer Group, Bezos Family Foundation, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Buffett Early Childhood Fund, the David and Lucile Packard Foundation, Foundation for Child Development, Heising-Simons Foundation, and Stranahan Foundation.

To learn more, please visit the EEIC web site at: www.earlyedcollaborative.org