WASHINGTON — The District Council unanimously approved new salary minimums for early childhood educators amid a fight for equitable pay.
The Tuesday afternoon votes comes after months of pressure from advocacy groups who pushed councilmembers to secure funds for the program that helps supplement the salaries of those who care for children ages 0-3.
At first, Mayor Muriel Bowser proposed eliminating the Pay Equity Fund in the FY25 budget due to severe constraints, but after continued advocacy from groups of educators, the Council added it back into the budget.
The Pay Equity Fund aims to provide pay equity between early childhood educators and K-12 teachers.
As part of the Council's updated budget, it's funded through FY28 at $70 million annually.
“We’re always talking about how children need their basic needs met to learn – they need housing, food, shelter, a safe space to come to. That also speaks to teachers," early childhood educator Jacqueline Strickland said over the summer. "Their basic needs need to be met in order to come in and provide a high quality environment for these children they’re caring for on a daily basis.”
Part of the agreement included an Early Childhood Educator Equitable Compensation Task Force putting together recommendations for how to continue to pay for the fund and provide equitable salaries to workers.
The task force delivered its report at the end of September.
On Friday, Council Chair Phil Mendelson introduced emergency legislation to update pay minimums for early childhood educators based on the task force's recommendations.
"This isn't simply about, lets subsidize the pay for childcare workers. It's recognizing that early childhood care is early education for toddlers and younger. So it's important if we want kids to do well in school, if we can get them off to a good start before then. That's what this is about. A decent pay for educators of our youngest," Mendelson told WUSA9.
The Council held its first and only vote on the new scale at Tuesday's legislative meeting.
It lists the new scale as follows:
- Assistant Teacher Minimum Salaries Credential Level Minimum Salary
- CDA: $51,006/year ($24.52/hour)
- Associate degree or higher or 60 hours of college-level coursework in any field: $54,262/year ($26.09/hour)
- Lead Teacher Minimum Salaries Credential Level Minimum Salary
- Child development center teacher or expanded child development home caregiver with a CDA: $51,006/year ($24.52/hour)
- Child development home caregiver with a CDA: $54,262/year ($26.09/hour)
- Associate in ECE; associate with at least 12 credit hours in ECE; 60 college credit hours with at least 12 credit hours in ECE: $63,838/year ($30.69/hour)
- Bachelor’s or higher in ECE or related field; or Bachelor’s with at least 12 credit hours in ECE: $75,103/year ($36.11/hour)
According to the task force's report, CDC Teachers and CDX Home Caregivers are facing a 6% decrease in their salary, and educators with less than a CDA (Child Development Associate Credential) would see their pay decreased by 17% to minimum wage.
"This change is aligned with OSSE’s licensing requirements and quality goals, creating additional incentive for educators to attain the baseline required credential of a CDA," the report said.
It said this change would impact 608 educators.
Most salary minimums will remain the same as they are currently, per the legislation.
The task force is also proposing freezing minimum salaries at this scale through FY28, since the Pay Equity Fund is receiving a constant $70 million each year.
Advocacy group Under 3 DC shared its support for the emergency legislation on X on Friday, writing, "Under 3 DC wants every councilmember to support the childcare Pay Equity Fund emergency legislation that the Council will vote on Tuesday. It limits pay cuts as much as possible and prioritizes equity. But educator pay cuts should never have happened. Mayor Bowser and the DC Council must ensure full program funding in the future to prevent us from ever being in this situation again."
Tuesday's vote is the first one on this emergency legislation, but if the Council eventually passes it, the new minimums would apply to current and FY25 salaries.