In the past decade, various stakeholders in the public and private sectors in Hawai‘i have sought to increase the state’s investment in child care and early learning programs. A new Executive Office of Early Learning was established in June 2012 to build a statewide early childhood development and learning system. The state also established a publicly funded preschool program in 2013–2014 with the eventual aim of universal access for all 3- and 4-year-olds. At the same time, like other states, Hawai‘i has struggled to ensure that it has a wellprepared and well-compensated early care and education (ECE) workforce commensurate with this vision.

Researchers at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, College of Education received a grant from the Early Educator Investment Collaborative for the Hawai‘i Early Childhood Educator Excellence and Equity (ECE3) Project. Through a contract with the Research Corporation of the University of Hawai‘i, this RAND Corporation report is intended to provide analytic support for the ECE3 Project’s compensation and financing strategy by (1) documenting the landscape for the ECE workforce in the state in terms of compensation, working conditions, and professional development and (2) identifying policy options for addressing challenges in these areas. In an effort to expand understanding of the ECE workforce and develop a road map for the future, the study brings together previous data and research; new data collected by the RAND team through interviews, focus groups, and a survey; and case studies.

This study was undertaken by two divisions of RAND: RAND Education and Labor and RAND Social and Economic Well-Being. RAND Education and Labor conducts research on early childhood through postsecondary education programs, workforce development, and programs and policies affecting workers, entrepreneurship, and financial literacy and decisionmaking. Questions about RAND Education and Labor should be directed to educationandlabor@rand.org. RAND Social and Economic Well-Being is a division of the RAND Corporation that seeks to actively improve the health and social and economic well-being of populations and communities throughout the world. This research was conducted in the Social and Behavioral Policy Program within RAND Social and Economic Well-Being. The program focuses on such topics as risk factors and prevention programs, social safety net programs and other social supports, poverty, aging, disability, child and youth health and well-being, and quality of life, as well as other policy concerns that are influenced by social and behavioral actions and systems that affect well-being. For more information, email sbp@rand.org.