Early childhood workers nationally earn around $13 per hour, and many said they rely on public assistance to get by and support their families.
Melanie Barker, founder of the Kentucky Association of Child Care Owners, said that because of federal stimulus funding, the Commonwealth’s rate is slightly higher. Still, she expects more centers to close when they are forced to lower salaries and can’t attract workers.
“Now that the stimulus funds are gone, now child care centers are trying to scramble,” Barker pointed out. “How are we going to continue to pay $20 an hour when we’re not even bringing that in, in the classroom?”…