Early Childhood Education and Care Quality in Europe and the USA Issues of Conceptualization, Measurement and Policy

This book captures information about early childhood education and care (ECEC) policies and practices in different countries and aims to question the degree to which these countries have managed to meet the needs of children, families, and the ECEC workforce.

The book illustrates how different countries have adapted different strategies focusing on policy when it comes to quality ECEC. The goal of the book is twofold. First and foremost, it aims to present key findings and challenges for improving ECEC as a whole. Second, it aims to highlight problems and concerns which the field of ECEC faces, with respect to delivering high-quality care and education to all children.

As neither ?ECEC? nor ?quality? are universal concepts ? but are shaped by social-cultural values, as well as national, economic, and political contexts in which ECEC services are provided ? this cross-country volume is extremely relevant for fully understanding issues in the field of ECEC.

This book was originally published as a special issue of Early Child Development and Care.

Konstantina Rentzou is a Scientific Collaborator at the European University of Cyprus, Nicosia. She has extensive teaching, research, and consultation experience. Her research focuses on quality ECEC, organization of the physical environment of preschool settings, family engagement, children’s play, and male ECEC workers.

Ruslan Slutsky is a Professor of Early Childhood Education at The University of Toledo, USA. His research focuses on early childhood education and children’s play.