WASHINGTON (DC News Now) — Advocates are pushing back after Mayor Muriel Bowser proposed cutting the Pay Equity Fund in her latest 2027 budget proposal.
The Pay Equity Fund, which started dispersing money in 2022, provides funding to early childhood centers in order to raise the salaries of educators. The goal is to reduce the pay disparity between early childhood educators and K-12 teachers, while retaining talent.
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However, Bowser pushed back on the effectiveness of the fund.
“Let’s call it what it is, it’s an income support program,” Bowser said. “What I think people out in the world want is more affordable childcare.”…