Increase Exposure
Starting Early seeks to add the early childhood education profession to the list of career exploration options for young people. Beginning in middle school with career exposure and throughout high school with opportunities to obtain a Childhood Development Associates (CDA) credential. Starting Early wants to increase the number of individuals entering the early childhood education profession. Through these real-world learning experiences, young people with a passion for working with children can explore career pathways beyond a CDA that includes obtaining two-and four-year degrees, becoming entrepreneurs, and opening their own early childhood centers.
Increase Compensation
Of course, it is difficult to advocate for more people entering the profession of early childhood when most educators in the profession do not earn a livable wage. Starting Early works with providers, educators, families, and many other stakeholders to advocate for policy changes that will increase wages and other benefits for early childhood educators. Providers and families cannot shoulder the burden of increasing wages and it will take a concerted effort of all stakeholders-businesses, government, philanthropy, as well as those in the early childhood ecosystem to work together for this critically important workforce. Starting Early seeks to develop a wage supplement pilot program in the region to demonstrate that with increased compensation for educators, we can decrease the workforce shortage and increase developmental outcomes for children.
Increase Advocacy
Starting Early believes that the early childhood education workforce is essential and worthy of everyone's collective commitment and investment. If we do not have the workforce to watch the children of our current workforce, we will not have the economic development our region hopes for in the future. Starting Early seeks to build an equitable, accessible, and quality system committed to centering the voices of the early childhood education community to make changes and ensure the region's continued economic growth.
