With generous support from The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the National Black Child Development Institute launched the “Responsible Transformation of the Early Childhood Education Workforce” initiative with the following goals: 1) examine the impact new education requirements may have on Black early childhood educators; and 2) explore how to best implement a bachelor’s degree requirement for early childhood educators in communities that serve Black children by strengthening and not displacing the current workforce. Based on qualitative data collected from focus groups with early childhood educators, NBCDI provides recommendations to advance the early childhood education workforce and provide diverse, high-quality education for young children. (author abstract)