Our Children’s Teachers

The most essential component for quality early childhood education is the commitment, quality, and continuity of the teacher/caregiver. We know that quality child care and early education are essential for the intellectual and social development of children.

But, instead of receiving recognition and professional standing, child care workers earn poverty-generating wages in undervalued jobs that rob them of the dignity of work.

Wages for child care teachers in Washington state have stagnated below $8 an hour for over a decade. Almost half of the licensed child care centers do not provide medical benefits to their teaching staff. Consequently, turnover among early childhood education teachers exceeds 40%.