Ubiquitous low wages often mask the uneven playing field faced by current and prospective early educators. Educators with equivalent levels of educational attainment face wage disparities depending on the age of children they teach and the funding and sponsorship of the program in which they are employed. These disparities drive teacher turnover and shortages with far reaching implications for access to high quality early care and education for all children, and the immediate and long term well-being of teachers. Strategies for disrupting these inequities will be discussed.

Presentation

Marcy Whitebook, Co-Director, Center for the Study of Child Care Employment, UC Berkeley

Panel Discussion

Ola Friday, Associate Commissioner for Workforce Development, MA Department of Early Education and Care
Brian Gold, Early Education Program Officer, The Boston Foundation (Moderator)
Clifford Kwong, Teacher, Ellis Early Education Center
Yvette Rodriguez, Vice President, Head Start & Children's Services, ABCD
Marcy Whitebook, Co-Director, Center for the Study of Child Care Employment, UC Berkeley