Address the Shortage of Early Educators

• Wage Equity for Early Educators 
  • Implement the following to achieve parity with public school educators with similar degrees and experience.
  • A compensation scale for Early Educators in State Funded programs paid for with an increase in payment rates for School Readiness and CDC’s to: 
    • $16,138 for preK and 
    • $31,767 for Infant Toddler care
  • Establish a wage equity fund to raise pay for early educators industry-wide

• Make child care free for early educators through Care4Kids
  • Add employees of licensed early care programs to the list of priority groups for Care4Kids and institute an income disregard for early educators.  (The Kentucky approach)
• Increase funding for apprenticeships and scholarships to build the early childhood workforce

Make Child Care More Affordable For Families

• Raise Care4Kids Payments to cover the cost of providing quality care
• Maintain Care4Kids income eligibility at 60% of SMI for FY24 
• Increase income eligibility to 85% of State Median income in FY 25