Pipelines and Pools: Meeting the Demand for Early Childhood Teachers in Illinois. Policy Research Report: IERC 2006-3

This study analyzes whether Illinois' supply of early childhood teachers will be adequate to meet the increased demand brought about by the state's new Preschool For All plan. We find that the supply produced by the new-certificant pipeline, combined with an existing reserve pool of qualified teachers, will be sufficient to meet demand if certified teachers are offered professional salaries and the plan is phased in at a rate of about 10,000 additional students per year. Chicago will be more dependent on its new-certificant pipeline and needs to understand why so many students do not make it from "interest" to program enrollment to program completion. The following are appended: (1) Assessment of Illinois Early Care and Education Data and Research Reports: Executive Summary; and (2) Enrollments and Degrees Conferred in Early Childhood Education by Institution. (Contains 12 tables and 5 figures.)