September 14, 2022 Participate in Early Childhood Wage Survey Trying Together’s statewide partners — Children First and Reinvestment Fund with Start Strong PA — are conducting a survey to determine the wages of early childhood educators across Pennsylvania. Child Wage Survey Providers of early childhood education have struggled with low wages for some time. These unlivable wages have contributed to the current staffing shortages affecting the entire profession. In order to effectively advocate on behalf of educators, legislators need to know the current wages that early childhood professionals are being paid in real time. To effectively gather this information, teachers in early childhood classrooms are encouraged to participate in this ongoing wage survey. Information will be confidential and any data collected will only be reported in the aggregate. Participants will also have the option to enter a drawing for a $50 Amazon gift card. Please direct all questions to Mai Miksic, maim@childrenfirstpa.org, early childhood education policy director at Children First.
April 6, 2022 Early Childhood League Develops Resources for Families Trying Together has released a new policy report and early intervention guide for families developed by the Early Childhood League. About the Early Childhood League Trying Together teamed up with a group of parents and caregivers to launch the Early Childhood League in 2021. The League aimed to connect parents, caregivers, and community organizations and empower them to advocate for positive changes in early learning policies that affect them and their children. From January through September, members met monthly to discuss communications techniques, community organizing strategies, early childhood education principles, and public policy processes. League members connected to campaigns, such as Start Strong PA, Pre-K for PA and Childhood Begins At Home. Members joined one of the following committees: Mobilization Committee: The Mobilization Committee focused on grassroots policy issues for children and families. They learned about the three ELPA campaigns and community organizing strategies. Their main projects focused on forming a call to action campaign. Tool Kit/ Early Intervention Committee: The toolkit committee compiled an Early Intervention Resource Guide to support families with children with developmental concerns. Policy Committee: The policy committee developed a policy report that outlined the collective advocacy focus of the ECE League. Resources Members of the Early Childhood League created the following guides for the community: Early Childhood League Policy Recommendations – This report highlights short-term and long-term policy recommendations focusing on wages and retention for the ECE workforce. Early Intervention Resource Guide – This guide lays out numerous local and national resources that can be utilized by parents, caregivers, educators, and health professionals.
