Children are already learning at birth, and they develop and learn at a rapid pace in their early years. This provides a critical foundation for lifelong progress, and the adults who provide for the care and education of children from birth through age 8 bear a great responsibility for their health, development, and learning. Transforming the Workforce for Children Birth Through Age 8, a report from the Institute of Medicine and National Research Council, explores the implications of the science of child development for the professionals who work with these children. This guide summarizes considerations from the report for planning and implementing high-quality and coherent professional learning for this workforce. (author abstract)