Project
Learning Community: Bold on Early Educator Compensation
Bringing together ECE leaders and advocates from seven states throughout 2022.
About the Project
The Bold on Early Educator Compensation Learning Community brings together a group of 20+ advocates, government representatives, and legislators from seven states to:
- Identify barriers to improving early educator compensation and strategies to overcome those barriers
- Build understanding and capacity to implement policies that increase wages and improve access to benefits such as paid sick leave and health insurance
- Document and disseminate strategies beyond participants in the learning community, to stakeholders across the ECE field, especially those engaged in state policy formulation and implementation
Learning Community Structure
Monthly or Bi-Monthly Meetings
- Monthly opportunities to learn from each other and other experts
- Participants give input on structure and topics of meetings
CSCCE’s Role
- Connection to expertise in the Center and our body of related research
- Connecting our collective learnings with the broader ECE community by disseminating findings and related materials
Creating Peer Networks
- Connecting experts within and across states who share commitment to addressing compensation within ECE
About the Participants
We invited three to four participants from seven states who have demonstrated a bold commitment to ECE compensation. Participants range in role, and typically include from each state:
- A staff member of an advocacy organization that represents early educators
- A member of a related state agency
- A state legislator who has demonstrated commitment to early care and education
The cohort participating in this year’s learning community has been set. Throughout 2022, we will be sharing our findings and resources with the broader ECE community.
Illinois
- Lilian Matsuda- Director of Policy and Advocacy, IL Action for Children
- Bethany Patten- Associate Director of Office of Early Childhood, Department of Human Services
- Theresa Hawley- Governor’s Office Illinois’ Early Childhood Transformation Team
Massachusetts
- Jocelyn Bowne- Director of Research and Preschool Expansion Grant, Department of Early Education and Care
- Marisa Fear- Associate Director of Research and Policy, Strategies for Children
- Tara Wilson- Legislative and Budget Director, Office of State Senator Susan Moran
New Mexico
- State Rep. Linda Serrato
- Matthew Henderson-Executive Director, Organizers in the Land of Enchantment (OLÉ)
North Carolina
- State Rep. Ashton Clemmons
- Ariel Ford- Director of the Division of Child Development and Early Education for the Department of Health and Human Services
- Marsha Basloe- President, Child Care Services Association
Washington
- Angela Abrams- Director Eligibility and Provider Supports, Department of Children, Youth, and Families
- Gabriela Quintana- Advocacy Director, Economic Opportunity Institute (EOI)
- State Rep. Tana Senn
Wisconsin
- Corrine Hendrickson- Founding Member of Wisconsin Early Childhood Action Needed (WECAN), Owner and Educator of Corrine’s Little Explorers Family Child Care
- Erin Arango-Escalante- Administrator, Division of Early Care and Education, Wisconsin Department of Children and Families
- State Rep. Jill Billings
- Ruth Schmidt- Executive Director, Wisconsin Early Childhood Association (WECA)
Vermont
- Chloe Learey (Executive Director, Winston Prouty Center for Child and Family Development)
- Sherry Carlson (Chief Program Officer, Let’s Grow Kids)
Topics for Each Learning Community
Over the course of the year we will meet for 15 one-hour sessions on topics ranging from wage increase mechanisms and access to benefits, to building political power with early educators. Stay tuned as we add related resources.
Schedule of Topics
Introductions, overview of the Learning Community & creating shared goals.
Creating a shared definition and framework for taking action on compensation.
Deeper dive discussions on salary scales, using ARPA stabilization grants to incentivize wage increase, and direct payments.
In a deeper discussion about mechanisms for wage increases, the group heard from guest speaker, Ruqiyyah Anbar-Shaheen, Director of Early Childhood Policy at DC Action & Coalition Director at DC Under 3.
Exploring mechanisms for and barriers to providing health care benefits. Hear from advocates in Washington and New Mexico about strategies for increasing access to health care.
Exploring mechanisms for and barriers to providing other benefits (paid leave, retirement etc.). Learn from advocates in Massachusetts about efforts to increase access to paid leave and retirement.
Discuss financing mechanisms needed to make progress on compensation such as cost modeling and contracts; Learn from advocates in Illinois about their efforts to use a cost model and contracts to address compensation.
Discuss strategies to secure multi-level and sustained funding for ECE compensation.
Discuss data collection to evaluate impact.
Building administrative infrastructure that is efficient and equitable.
Coalition-building and advocacy.
Engaging and empowering educators as participants in advocacy and decision-making processes.
Deep dive into the role of legislators, legislative action, and effective legislative advocacy.
Sustaining compensation policy momentum from ARPA and beyond.
Reflections and next steps.
Questions?
Contact Annie Dade at adade@berkeley.edu.