Why Target ECE Workforce? General economic returns/benefits –To workers/multiplier effect –To society/better child outcomes Political, economic potential –Increased public, business, union support –Economic recovery – window of opportunity Fix Market failures –Inability to pay –Lack of information

Getting from Here to There Current workforce: –Low education levels –Very low compensation –Little or no career ladder Keys to enhancement: –Route to higher education –Better compensation –Career ladder

ECE Worker Qualifications Declining

In mid-80s, Younger Teachers were More Often College-Educated than Older Teachers -- Like the Workforce as a Whole

Many College-Educated ECE Teachers and Administrators Near Retirement

Today, Younger Teachers Are Less Often College- Educated than Older Teachers -- Unlike the Workforce as a Whole

Education Lowest for Home-Based ECE

ECE Workers Also Paid Less

Proposal and Cost Enhance qualifications, skills, each level of 1.85 million ECE workers: –Below HS  HS  CDA: (~50%) –CDA  AA  ? BA/ECE PD (~30 – 50%) Cost: –Lowest-paid in field, lift from $8-$12 to $13-$17 –Mid-level ECE workers, those entering the field, add PD, $5/hr, ladder –TOTAL: $18.5 billion - $23 billion (with benefits)

Policy Strategies New funding: tax incentives/legislation linking quality to reimbursement/salary Reallocated dollars –Race to the Top ECE –Reinvest prison savings –Workforce Development Initiatives –Social Investment Bonds

Tying funding to quality Through tax credits: individual/ teacher, reimbursement to ECE center, business, parents (LA) Through scholarships: T.E.A.C.H. Through legislation (PA STARS)

Reallocation Policy I: RTT Race to the Top offering new ECE grants –Target program quality –Focus on systems-building, collaboration –Sustainability key Opportunities for job creation/growth –Using RTT $ to tie quality to compensation –Using RTT $ to enhance worker skills

Reallocation Policy II: Corrections Logical connection: At-risk children drive many corrections costs, quality ECE helps Financial and political opportunities: –Huge prison budgets w/ little/no safety benefit –ECE relatively small budget, so small % of set-aside can fund thousands of children –Same fiscal conservatives that support prison cuts can back ECE funding

Reallocation III: Workforce Initiatives Federal/state grants for partnerships— training tied to ECE career ladders Preference for funding to proposals that –increase compensation with training/step up –have a funding sustainability plan –Strengthen business/labor engagement Use some $ to move unregulated home- based providers onto first rung of ladder

Reallocation IV: SIBs In use in other countries, policy contexts ECE presents opportunities, challenges –Evidence of future payoff –Prevention  major cost savings –Business, philanthropists taking interest BUT –Estimating short-term savings difficult –Different savings by risk group, cohort, family and community factors – how to incorporate?

Contact information Elaine Weiss (202) Steve Herzenberg (717)