Each year on or around May 1, communities across the country recognize Worthy Wage Day, a national day of action that calls attention to the critical role early childhood educators play and the ongoing challenge of low wages in the field.
Since 1992, Worthy Wage Day has highlighted a persistent reality: early childhood educators—those who care for, teach, and support our youngest children—are among the lowest-paid professionals in the workforce. At the same time, research continues to show that the most important factor in high-quality early care and education is the consistency and quality of the educator.
These two truths cannot coexist if we want strong outcomes for children.
Why This Matters for Alaska
Alaska’s early childhood educators are essential to the well-being of children, families, and communities. They create safe, nurturing environments where children learn, build relationships, and develop the skills they need for lifelong success. But today, Alaska’s child care system is under strain. Child care programs are working hard to stay open. Families are still struggling to find and afford child care. Early educators are leaving the field due to low wages and limited long-term career stability. When educators leave, children lose trusted relationships, programs face disruption, and families lose reliable care.
Worthy Wage Day is a moment to recognize this reality and to act on it.
What Worthy Wage Day Calls For
Worthy Wage Day raises awareness of:
- The low wages earned by early childhood educators
- The impact of educator turnover on children and families
- The need for sustained public investment in child care and early learning
It also calls on communities, partners, and policymakers to work together on solutions that strengthen the workforce and support long-term stability.
A Path Forward: Investing in Alaska’s Workforce
Alaska has made important progress in strengthening child care, but continued investment is critical to maintain that momentum.
One key strategy is the ROOTS Award (Retaining Our Outstanding Teachers). The ROOTS Award is a recruitment and retention stipend that helps child care programs:
- Retain experienced educators
- Maintain stable classrooms for children
- Strengthen quality through professional development
Sustained annual funding for the ROOTS Award helps ensure that progress does not move backward and that early educators can continue to build careers in the field.
Take Action: Support Alaska’s Early Educators
Alaskans across the state are coming together to support a shared letter urging the Alaska Legislature to make the ROOTS Award a stable, annual investment. We have made a ton of progress, with support from hundreds of Alaskans, but we still need your help.
By signing on, you can show that strengthening the early childhood workforce is a major statewide priority.
You can sign on here: https://threadalaska.quorum.us/campaign/GrowOurROOTsLetter/
Stay tuned for more ways to make your voice heard, and we will continue to share this message with lawmakers in Juneau to help support additional child care action.
Looking Ahead
Worthy Wage Day is more than a moment of recognition; it’s a reminder that quality child care systems depend on a supported and stable workforce.
When we invest in early educators, we invest in children, families, and the future of Alaska.
At thread we remain committed to working alongside partners, communities, and policymakers to advance solutions that strengthen the early childhood system statewide.