The Early Childhood Workforce Index is a biennial report that describes early childhood employment conditions and policies on a state-by-state basis. Providing states with periodic appraisals of their efforts based on measurable status and policy indicators, the Index is aimed at encouraging states to step up their efforts to address persistent workforce challenges. It is our hope that expanded and consistent focus on early childhood jobs will generate refined strategies and sustainable policies to attend to compensation and other issues that have gone largely unaddressed.