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CHICAGO ~ Chicago Mayor Announces $7M Investment to Increase Salaries for Early Childhood Professionals
In a move to support the early childhood workforce and provide quality care for young learners, Mayor Brandon Johnson and the Department of Family and Support Services (DFSS) have announced a $7 million investment. This investment will go towards increasing salaries for early childhood professionals, with the goal of bringing their pay closer in line with the broader K-12 education workforce.
This is the first time that corporate funds will be used to enhance the early childhood workforce, leveraging Mayor Johnson's $7 million investment. At least 3,000 early childhood workers across 86 early care and education providers will receive wage increases averaging 5-10%.
Mayor Johnson emphasized the importance of this investment, stating, "At a time when the federal government is cutting funding for early childhood, the City of Chicago is stepping up." He added that this investment not only benefits young learners but also supports parents who rely on the early childhood workforce and recognizes the dignity of these workers.
The $7 million investment will result in a 5-10% increase in salary for all state-funded workers. Additionally, Head Start workers will receive a one-time bonus of 2%. Currently, non-federally funded early childhood workers have an average salary of $35,000, significantly lower than that of Chicago Public Schools (CPS) educators.
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Acting DFSS Commissioner Maura McCauley highlighted the importance of investing in the early learning workforce, stating that "a successful early learning landscape hinges on the strength of our workforce." She also mentioned that this investment towards pay parity is just one step and that DFSS will continue its efforts to move towards pay parity through a forthcoming study with recommendations for future salary funding.
To ensure equitable distribution of funds and alignment with CPS salaries, DFSS Children Services Division will coordinate a research and evaluation project with Center for Early Learning Funding Equity (CELFE). This project will provide a comprehensive analysis of models and make recommendations for a funding strategy that allocates funding to community-based organizations.
Tahiti Hamer, an early childhood teacher at the North Lawndale YMCA, expressed her gratitude for this investment, stating, "We are here today because Mayor Johnson and the City Council listened to the voices of organized early childhood workers, parents, and community who have a vision for good jobs and child care for all." She added that this investment will not only support workers but also ensure that child care centers can stay open to serve families in need.
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Rocio Garcia, a Chicago parent, shared her personal experience with the lack of affordable and culturally responsive childcare in her neighborhood. She emphasized the importance of adequate pay for childcare workers so they can afford to stay in the field and provide quality care for children.
This investment aligns with Mayor Johnson's proclamation last month declaring April as Month of the Young Child. It also supports two of his administration's top priorities: investing in young people and supporting working people.
Brynn Seibert, Vice President & Child Care & Early Learning Division Director at SEIU Healthcare Illinois, praised Mayor Johnson's leadership in addressing the child care workforce crisis. She mentioned that SEIU Healthcare Illinois and the Child Care for All coalition have been advocating for this investment through town halls, budget listening sessions, City Council testimonies, and a petition with 1,800 signatures delivered to City Hall.
The $7 million investment comes from the City's Corporate funds allocated by the Office of Budget and Management. With this investment, Chicago is taking a crucial step towards supporting its early childhood workforce and providing quality care for young learners.
In a move to support the early childhood workforce and provide quality care for young learners, Mayor Brandon Johnson and the Department of Family and Support Services (DFSS) have announced a $7 million investment. This investment will go towards increasing salaries for early childhood professionals, with the goal of bringing their pay closer in line with the broader K-12 education workforce.
This is the first time that corporate funds will be used to enhance the early childhood workforce, leveraging Mayor Johnson's $7 million investment. At least 3,000 early childhood workers across 86 early care and education providers will receive wage increases averaging 5-10%.
Mayor Johnson emphasized the importance of this investment, stating, "At a time when the federal government is cutting funding for early childhood, the City of Chicago is stepping up." He added that this investment not only benefits young learners but also supports parents who rely on the early childhood workforce and recognizes the dignity of these workers.
The $7 million investment will result in a 5-10% increase in salary for all state-funded workers. Additionally, Head Start workers will receive a one-time bonus of 2%. Currently, non-federally funded early childhood workers have an average salary of $35,000, significantly lower than that of Chicago Public Schools (CPS) educators.
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Acting DFSS Commissioner Maura McCauley highlighted the importance of investing in the early learning workforce, stating that "a successful early learning landscape hinges on the strength of our workforce." She also mentioned that this investment towards pay parity is just one step and that DFSS will continue its efforts to move towards pay parity through a forthcoming study with recommendations for future salary funding.
To ensure equitable distribution of funds and alignment with CPS salaries, DFSS Children Services Division will coordinate a research and evaluation project with Center for Early Learning Funding Equity (CELFE). This project will provide a comprehensive analysis of models and make recommendations for a funding strategy that allocates funding to community-based organizations.
Tahiti Hamer, an early childhood teacher at the North Lawndale YMCA, expressed her gratitude for this investment, stating, "We are here today because Mayor Johnson and the City Council listened to the voices of organized early childhood workers, parents, and community who have a vision for good jobs and child care for all." She added that this investment will not only support workers but also ensure that child care centers can stay open to serve families in need.
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Rocio Garcia, a Chicago parent, shared her personal experience with the lack of affordable and culturally responsive childcare in her neighborhood. She emphasized the importance of adequate pay for childcare workers so they can afford to stay in the field and provide quality care for children.
This investment aligns with Mayor Johnson's proclamation last month declaring April as Month of the Young Child. It also supports two of his administration's top priorities: investing in young people and supporting working people.
Brynn Seibert, Vice President & Child Care & Early Learning Division Director at SEIU Healthcare Illinois, praised Mayor Johnson's leadership in addressing the child care workforce crisis. She mentioned that SEIU Healthcare Illinois and the Child Care for All coalition have been advocating for this investment through town halls, budget listening sessions, City Council testimonies, and a petition with 1,800 signatures delivered to City Hall.
The $7 million investment comes from the City's Corporate funds allocated by the Office of Budget and Management. With this investment, Chicago is taking a crucial step towards supporting its early childhood workforce and providing quality care for young learners.
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