Apprenticeships: Alternative instructional and training models to deliver education, including alternatives to the higher education system and those that aim to deliver higher education coursework and experiences in nontraditional models or formats. Apprenticeships combine classroom-based learning and on-the-job training and typically require increased wages upon achievement of certain criteria or milestones.

Source: Strengthening the Knowledge, Skills, and Professional Identity of Early Educators: The Impact of the California SEIU Early Educator Apprenticeship Program 

ARPA: The American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) was a $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief package with $39 billion in child care relief funding. This dedicated child care funding provided $15 billion for the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) and $24 billion for a child care stabilization fund. 

Source: CCAoA Statement in Response to Congress Passing American Rescue Plan

Base Wage or Salary: The basic amount of money that someone is paid for doing a job, not including any extra amounts, such as overtime payments or bonuses. May also be referred to as base pay.

Source: Cambridge Dictionary

Benefits: In addition to annual salaries or hourly wages, benefits are considered a part of compensation. Benefits may include health insurance, retirement plans, sick leave, vacation leave. 

Bonuses: As used in the Index, a bonus refers to a cash award provided as a one-off supplementary payment, sometimes but not always in recognition of a particular educational achievement (such as completion of a degree or credential). May also be referred to as an award or incentive.

Source: 2020 Early Childhood Workforce Index, Compensation & Financial Relief

CCDF: The Child Care Development Fund (CCDF) is a federal and state partnership program authorized under the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act (CCDBG) and administered by states, territories, and Tribes with federal funding from the Administration for Children and Families’ Office of Child Care. It is used to provide financial assistance to low-income families to access child care and to invest in the ECE workforce and the overall quality of child care services.

Source: What is the Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) – Office of Child Care

CDA: The Child Development Associate® (CDA) Credential is a nationally recognized credential in early childhood education, administered by the Council for Professional Recognition. The CDA is a post-secondary, competency-based credential requiring 120 hours of formal early childhood education or training, 480 hours of professional work experience with young children, and an exam.

Source: FAQs – CDA Council

Compensation: A term used to encompass the entire range of wages and benefits, both current and deferred, that employees receive in return for their work, as defined by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. In addition to wages, compensation includes an array of benefits, such as health insurance, paid sick leave, and retirement contributions. 

Source: 2020 Early Childhood Workforce Index, Compensation & Financial Relief

Compensation Initiatives: Initiatives that increase workers’ base annual salaries or hourly wages and/or provide benefits such as health insurance or retirement plans. May also be referred to as compensation strategies.

Source: 2020 Early Childhood Workforce Index, Compensation & Financial Relief

Compensation Parity: The state or condition of being equal especially regarding status or pay. In current ECE debates, it typically refers to comparability between early educator pay and K-3 teacher pay. May also be referred to as parity.

Source: 2020 Early Childhood Workforce Index, Compensation & Financial Relief

Cost Estimation Model: A cost estimation model is a dynamic tool that provides estimates of the financial cost of operating a child care program based on variations such as program size, geographic location, and quality standards. A cost estimation model may be informed by provider data collected via a cost study. May also be referred to as a cost model.

Source: Using cost estimation to inform child care policy

Cost Study: A study to collect data from providers about their current program operating costs, providing a point-in-time cost estimate, as compared with the dynamic nature of a cost estimation model.

Source: Using cost estimation to inform child care policy

Early Childhood Workforce: Individuals who work directly with young children for pay in early care and education settings in roles focused on teaching and caregiving. May also be referred to as early care and education (ECE) workforce or early educators. Home-based providers may also be referred to as family child care (FCC) providers. 

Source: 2020 Early Childhood Workforce Index, Introduction & Policy Recommendations

Educational Supports: Policies and pathways that provide consistent standards and resources for educators to achieve higher education, such as: cohort models; flexible class schedules; and financial support for tuition, books, and other costs. 

Source: 2020 Early Childhood Workforce Index, Qualifications & Educational Supports

Model Work Standards: A set of guidelines and assessment tools that describe a high-quality work environment for early educators in child care programs. 

Source: Model Work Standards, Center-Based

See also: Model Work Standards, Family Child Care

PDG B-5 Grant: Federal Preschool Development Grant Birth through Five (PDG B-5) grants are available to states and territories to support early childhood services for children from birth to age five. Funds must be applied for and can be used to support a needs assessment, strategic planning, family engagement, quality improvement, workforce compensation and supports, and direct services for young children.

Source: Preschool Development Birth through Five (PDG B-5)

QRIS: A Quality Rating and Improvement System (QRIS) is a systemic approach to assess, improve, and communicate the level of quality in early and school-age care and education programs. 

Source: About QRIS

Salary Scale: A salary scale sets benchmarks for clearly differentiated salary increments based on qualifications and years of experience, which guide salary increases over time. May also be referred to as salary schedule, salary or wage guidelines.

Source: Bold on Early Educator Compensation: Lessons from State Actions

Scholarships: Scholarship programs support educational pathways for early childhood educators to achieve foundational knowledge (a Child Development Associate® Credential or equivalent) and to achieve higher education (associate and bachelor’s degrees). Scholarships typically cover some portion of financial costs (tuition and fees) and may also offer additional supports like access to counseling or paid release time. 

Source: 2020 Early Childhood Workforce Index, Qualifications & Educational Supports

Statewide Policies: In the Index, statewide policies refer to those that originate in, are funded by, or are implemented via the state’s executive or legislative bodies and are inclusive of the majority of the state, geographically. 

Stipends: As used in the Index, a stipend refers to a supplemental or non-base wage cash award that an educator may receive more than once (e.g., every six months or every year), often intended to support retention. An example is the WAGE$ Program, developed by the T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood® National Center, operating in several states. May also be referred to as a wage or salary supplement.

Source: 2020 Early Childhood Workforce Index, Compensation & Financial Relief

Tax Credits: A type of supplemental or non-base wage cash award similar to stipends, applied for and received via a state’s annual income tax return process. 

T.E.A.C.H Early Childhood Program: T.E.A.C.H. (Teacher Education and Compensation Helps) Early Childhood® is a comprehensive scholarship model operating in 20+ states. Developed by the T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood® National Center, the scholarships typically include the cost or partial cost of tuition, books, and travel; paid release time; counseling; and a bonus or wage increase upon completion of a specified number of course credit hours. 

Source: T.E.A.C.H Early Childhood Program

Workforce Registry: An ECE workforce registry is a database or data system that collects and tracks information from individual early childhood and school-age staff about their demographics, education, and employment status. In many states, registries serve as critical workforce and professional development infrastructure, connecting educators to licensing, training, and professional supports, as well as verifying eligibility, providing direct payments, and serving as a communication channel.

Source: 2020 Early Childhood Workforce Index, Workforce Data

Workforce Survey: Online, phone, or in-person surveys of directors and teaching staff that capture information on educators’ characteristics, working conditions, perceptions, and/or experiences. Source: 2020 Early Childhood Workforce Index, Workforce Data