Ready or Not

Ready or Not made its mark in 2007 by boldly calling for a field-wide response to the question: “What defines and bounds early care and education as a field of practice?” A dozen years later, this question remains pivotal to the field’s understanding of its present and its aspirations for the future. In this updated and expanded edition, Goffin and Washington reunite to examine the major issues that must still be addressed if children are to be given more and better opportunities. This second edition will help everyone whose work impacts the ECE workforce, including those working directly with children, to deepen their commitment to adaptive and systems work and to develop the leadership capacity needed to become change agents. Ready or not, early childhood education needs to tackle its adaptive challenges. Nothing less will enable it to shift the field’s developmental trajectory, fulfill its potential, and satisfy its obligations to children, families, and society.

New for the Second Edition:

• Analyzes what has transpired over the past 12 years and documents why the field’s capacity to lead change remains in question.
• Assesses the extent to which the field has mobilized for field-wide adaptive change and what is still necessary to move forward.
• Positions the six defining questions within the field’s contemporary context.
• Includes a totally new “prequel” and “sequel” on “What’s Next” for the field, plus updated notes, references, and appendices.

With over 60 years of combined experience, Stacie G. Goffin and Valora Washington are recognized authorities in early care and education. Each has been involved in leading significant change initiatives. Stacie Goffin’s books include Early Childhood Education for a New Era. Valora Washington’s books include Guiding Principles for the New Early Childhood Professional and The New Early Childhood Professional.

Contents

Foreword by Marty Linsky and Ronald Heifetz

Acknowledgments

Prequel: How Far Have We Come 12 Years Later?
   Defining Our Terms
   Why We Came Together to Update Ready or Not
   ECE's Adaptive Challenges Also Have Evolved
   Bringing the ECE Field's Denizens to the Forefront 
   Distinguishing Between the Field's Adaptive and Technical Issues
   Embracing A Developmental Journey
   How the Book Is Organized
   Early Care and Education's Leadership Choices

Chapter 1. Calling the Question
   Building an Early Care and Education System
   Our Point of View
   The Leadership Work of the Early Care and Education Field
   Previous Adaptive Work in Early Care and Education
   Forming Our Future

Chapter 2. New Realities
   A Unique Historical Moment
   Facing New Realities
   Concern for the Field's Future
   Chapter 2 Postscript  
      Twelve Years Later, What Has Changed? 
      Twelve Years Later: What Hasn't Changed? 
      Twelve Years Later: Why Hasn't Change Occurred? 
      Twelve Years Later, Why Does It Matter?

Appendix A: Early Care and Education's Changing Landscape: From the 1980s to 2019 and Forward

Chapter 3. Necessary Choices
   Purpose
   Identity
   Responsibility
   Calling the Question

Chapter 4. Leading by Changing
   Adaptive Work
   Preparing for Adaptive Work
   Mobilizing the Early Care and Education Field for Adaptive Change

Sequel: What's Next? A Call to the Future
   Engaging With Adaptive and Systemic Change
   ECE's Choices Will Define Its Future 

Appendix B: Characterizations of the Early Care and Education Field by Its Leaders

Appendix C: Making Choices

Notes

References

About the Authors

Index