Promoting a Culture of Continuous Learning in Early Care and Education Settings: A Summary for ECE Leaders

Publication Date: December 28, 2021
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  • Published: 2021

Introduction

Research Questions

  1. To what extent did programs engage with the BSC and participate in the activities offered to teams?
  2. How successfully did programs develop a culture of continuous learning?
  3. Was there initial evidence that participating in the BSC resulted in desired outcomes related to teaching practices and organizational culture?

Young children and their families benefit from early care and education (ECE) settings that implement high-quality practices that support children’s well-being, health, and safety. Quality improvement activities include a variety of delivery modes and content areas to address children’s developmental needs and to align with the knowledge and skills of the ECE workforce. The work of quality improvement in ECE is challenging using existing methods, and sustained changes in quality across ECE settings have not been widespread. ECE leaders and staff are seeking new approaches to quality improvement that can promote meaningful and sustained changes in practice.

Purpose

The purpose of this brief is to share findings from the Culture of Continuous Learning (CCL) project, a study of the Breakthrough Series Collaborative (BSC) in ECE programs. The BSC is a quality improvement methodology tested in ECE programs to support practice change by addressing individual and organizational factors associated with sustaining high-quality practices.

Key Findings and Highlights

  • The BSC has promise for ECE settings. The method is compatible with a focus on continuous improvement promoted by ECE leaders. The method is flexible enough to be used with different content areas.
  • The initial findings also highlight the challenges ECE programs face that make it difficult for them to participate in quality improvement. We offer suggestions to decision makers interested in implementing quality improvement methods in ECE programs.
  • While this project was conducted before the COVID-19 pandemic, the lessons learned provide insight into potential strategies being implemented to support recovery of child care and early education programs.

Methods

Following are key elements of the BSC methodology that create the conditions in ECE programs that support sustained changes in practice.

  • Engage ECE programs in a learning collaborative
  • Develop shared goals for change
  • Learn in teams
  • Empower and equip participants to test new practices
  • Provide expert support on content and the process of improvement

Citation

Tout, K., Halle, T., Douglass, A., Cleveland, J., Doyle, S., Agosti, J., Bamdad, T., & Nagle, K. (2021). Promoting a Culture of Continuous Learning in Early Care and Education Settings: A Summary for ECE Leaders. OPRE Report #2021-207. Washington, DC: Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation, Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Glossary

Breakthrough Series Collaborative (BSC) :
A quality improvement methodology aimed at helping organizations build a shared knowledge of evidence-based best practices and an understanding of how to implement improvements within their unique contexts.
Culture of Continuous Learning (CCL) :
A project that included implementing the BSC methodology and studying its feasibility in ECE centers.