Alaska’s early childhood educators play an essential role in the lives of working families and their young children by providing safe, healthy and playful child care. Despite the value of this work, teaching in early childhood education is one of the lowest paid occupations in the country!
Worthy Wages for Worthy Work
Early educators are qualified professionals who receive ongoing training and education to gain the skills and knowledge necessary to help young children learn and grow. When these educators are forced to leave the field for better pay and benefits, Alaska’s families and young children suffer the consequences. For Alaska to have quality child care, early educators must be fairly compensated.
Since 1992, Worthy Wage Day has been a National Day of Action and recognition of:
- The low wages earned by early childhood educators.
- The importance of retaining early educators so young children have continuity of care.
- The need for public/private investment in early childhood education.
It is also a day to call on policymakers to find solutions to this issue, and to thank Alaska’s early educators for the work they do.
Take Action
Early educators are worthy of fair compensation. Here are ways you can act in support of their important work.
- Say “Thank You!” On Friday, May 6 Provider Appreciation Day thank your early educator for his/her dedication to the field. Then join national Twitter chat #ThankYouChildCare
- Take action in support of child care here https://threadalaska.salsalabs.org/childcaretrustfund/index.html?eType=EmailBlastContent&eId=167f95ea-03bc-49c9-862f-a75af227aa64
Stay informed
- thread’s Recommendations for Child Care During COVID (link to our position paper here
- Read recommendations for a wage and compensation model for Alaska, developed by John Hopkins University (JHU) IDEALS Institute