A survey by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) of more than 10,000 early childhood educators across the country illustrates how insufficient public investment in our early childhood education system burdens educators across all settings and the families they serve; and how it threatens to further reduce an already insufficient supply of quality child care and early learning programs.
The survey, NAEYC’s 10th since 2020, shows that:
- It’s increasingly expensive to run childcare and early learning programs.
- When public dollars dry up, and costs continue to rise, programs are forced to raise tuition or close.
- Families need childcare but can’t afford rising costs.
- Educators want to work but can’t afford to accept low wages.
- Educators who do stay are facing increased burnout.
- Respondents know of more childcare programs that are closing than are opening.
“Families can’t afford to pay more, and educators can’t afford to earn less,” said Michelle Kang, NAEYC CEO. “As costs rise, more early childhood educators will leave the field, and more programs will shut down — deeply impacting communities and threatening the stability of our economy.”…