A statewide imperative: Pennsylvania must invest in early education and care
By Briana Fitzgerald
I sat in my office setting up teacher interviews for our early childhood centers. This interview was important; we were opening our second location. I knew so many families for whom this center would be life-changing. The resume I held had everything I was looking for: years of experience in the field, glowing references, and a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education. When we sat down to talk, I knew I found a dream candidate for our program. Maria’s passion for fostering young minds resonated deeply, and her classroom philosophy aligned perfectly with our values. In our center, we believe that a child-centered environment helps foster an approach to play-based learning with ample opportunities for children to explore, experiment, and learn.
Then we reached the salary discussion. “While I appreciate the offer,” Maria began, her voice crackling, “It falls short of what I need to support myself and my son as a single mother.” Negotiations reached a stalemate. While I would have loved to be able to pay Maria the higher salary she asked for, I could not budge given my center’s limited funding and tight margins. With a heavy heart, she politely declined the offer days later. I was left with a gaping hole in our team. Maria’s choice became a stark reminder of the inadequate compensation many early childhood educators face in the field.
Our center is not the only one. Early childhood educators’ low compensation is driving a teacher shortage that is devastatingly affecting our students and families. The average salary for an early childhood educator in Pennsylvania is just $12.43 an hour, well below a living wage for skilled professionals who nurture young children with the tools they need to thrive in school and beyond. The absence of a statewide wage scale for qualified early childhood educators is a recognized issue in the field, which struggles to attract and retain qualified staff due to wages that often fall below comparable jobs and don’t reflect the importance of the role.
Research shows that 90% of brain development happens by age 5 and that the first eight years of a child’s life build the foundation for future learning, development, and success. Data also shows that the benefits of high-quality early childhood education (ECE) programs, which are critical for fostering the social-emotional development of young children, last well into kindergarten and even into secondary school. Children who attend ECE programs like ours are better prepared for academic achievement. They also develop self-regulation, communication, and collaboration skills that lead to healthier relationships and greater success in life.
Moreover, the Covid pandemic has shown how essential the work of ECE professionals is to our families and communities. These programs for our youngest learners also allow parents to reenter the workforce and contribute to our economy. Investing in ECE is not just right for our children, it is also a smart economic decision.
Children in centers like mine love and trust their teachers. A passionate teacher can ignite a student’s love for learning that extends beyond the classroom and into their future endeavors. I frequently hear from students like James, now in 1st grade, who attended preschool at one of my centers. Because James felt safe, respected, and cared for by his preschool teachers, he thrived in preschool and was set up for success in his K-12 experience.
But when Pennsylvania underinvests in early education and care, skilled early childhood educators leave the classroom, and students like James miss out on the high-quality and consistent classroom environments they need for optimal child development. Without appropriate compensation, many early childhood educators like Maria leave the profession, and many more talented young professionals decide against entering the field.
We must interrupt this cycle by investing in ECE and ECE teachers. As the Pennsylvania General Assembly debates its state budget for next year, the Commonwealth must increase funding for early childhood education, including boosting the salaries of all its professionals. The legislative body should include $284 million in the budget to bump up each level of the early childhood education wage scale in a concerted effort to attract and retain high-quality educators. This ensures everyone covered by the scale gets paid fairly.
By investing in ECE, we are investing in the future of our children, communities, and our nation. It is time we recognize the value of ECE education and ensure that we have the resources and support to hire outstanding candidates like Maria who can make a lasting difference in the lives of young children.
Briana Fitzgerald is an early childcare director at Children’s Ark Creative Learning Center in Penn Hills, Pennsylvania. She is a 2023–2024 Teach Plus Pennsylvania Policy Fellow.
