Early Educators play an important role in the lives of Alaska’s young children—providing safe, healthy and playful child care. Yet our early education
workforce earns an average of $11.99/hour, resulting in high-turnover in the field and poor continuity of care.
It’s Important Work…For Everyone
The number one indicator of quality child care is the early educator. Adults trained in early childhood education provide higher quality care, implement
more appropriate activities and prepare children for school. When they are forced to seek adequate pay and benefits elsewhere, Alaska’s families and
children suffer the consequences.
Hands Up for Worthy Wages
Worthy Wage Day is a national day of action held on May 1st since 1992. It is designed to raise public awareness of:
- The low wages earned by early childhood educators;
- The impact the educators retention crisis has on young children; and
- The chronic public underfunding for early childhood education.
It is also a day to remind us to thank our early educators and call on our policymakers and communities to find solutions to this issue.
What You Can Do Today
- Join thread in putting your hands up for worthy wages by thanking your early educator for his/her dedication to the field.
- Write your national legislators and show support for the Child Care for Working Families Act. This legislation would ensure working families have access
to quality, affordable child care. Take action here. - Stay informed on this issue. Higher wages means high quality of care for our children. Check out Union of Professional’s Worthy Wage Day blog series , and visit thread’s business section for Alaska’s child
care challenges and progress. - Watch this video from thread