NAEYC Report Highlights Low Compensation Impact on Early Childhood Education

The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) has released a report that highlights the inadequate and inequitable compensation in early childhood education that affects educators, children, families, businesses, and the economy.

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NAEYC’s “Compensation Means More Than Wages” argues that low compensation drives educators away from the field and keeps others from entering it. Additionally, it undermines quality and creates staffing crises that limit the supply of child care that families and businesses need.

The report discusses how in recent years, effective efforts have focused not only on increasing wages, but also on expanding access to benefits, especially for educators in child care centers and family child care homes.

These efforts align with needs expressed by early childhood educators, such as health insurance, retirement benefits, and paid leave. The report also cited the importance of a more expansive understanding of benefits, including loan forgiveness and scholarships, housing, and child care assistance.

NAEYC’s report cited several reasons why access to benefits is significant for early childhood educators. It said that benefits:

• Support early childhood educator well-being and program quality

• Promote gender and racial equity

• Support recruitment and retention of early childhood educators

• Bring in additional funding sources to support educators

For more information, read the NAEYC’s report.