Thank you for taking the time to complete this survey. This survey was developed by Afton Partners, who is working in partnership with the Delaware Early Childhood Council to gather perspectives from Delaware’s early care and education workforce on individual professional licensure for the field.
Delaware is working to create an individual professional license for early care and education professionals. Like a public school teacher, nurse, or social worker license, it would formally recognize your training, skills, and experience, it would belong to you rather than your employer, and you can build on it throughout your career. Early childhood educators throughout the United States have been working with state and national partners to seek professional recognition for the field of early childhood education through formal individual professional licensure. Some names for this work include Power to the Profession, Advancing Early Childhood Education as a Profession, and Professional Recognition Matters!
Delaware is determining how individual professional licensure will work in this state. Ideas are still being developed with the early care and education field through December 2026, and your input will directly shape what comes next. We want to hear from everyone working in early care and education, including teachers, assistant teachers, directors, family child care providers, early care and education students, and more.
The survey should take about 10–15 minutes to complete. The survey includes multiple types of questions, including questions where you can enter a response in your own words. Your responses will be recorded anonymously. Afton Partners will only share summary information and anonymous feedback with state partners leading this work. Honest feedback will help partners better understand how best to support you and other early childhood educators.
At the end of the survey you will be asked if you would like to share your email address to be entered into a drawing to receive a thank you e-gift card for your participation. Email addresses will only be used to identify participants to receive thank you gifts, and providing your email is completely optional. If you are selected via drawing to receive a gift card, you will receive an email notification.
Survey responses must be received by 11:59 PM on Friday, November 20, 2026.
Questions or concerns about the survey? Contact Kaitlyn McGovern at kmcgovern@aftonpartners.com
Thank you for taking the time to share your perspectives!