Early Childcare Educators Matter Too!

Child care workers are being underpaid despite the high cost of tuition they must pay to earn an associate degree or child development permit. This has resulted in a severe understaffing in early childhood programs throughout California and more prominently San Diego. In response, San Diego has launched a program that covers the costs for part time and full time students seeking education to pursue early childhood teaching. This program is different from other state and local programs that will only support full time students. This program gives students the opportunity to participate even if they only have time for part time education. 

The hard truth to accept is that childcare workers are often overlooked when talking about our education system. The reality is that early childcare workers are also twice as likely to be in poverty than any other worker. We must follow in San Diego’s footsteps and expand access to early childhood education training. This program is being launched through community colleges and should be expanded throughout California. We must support child care workers throughout the state and make sure the educators caring for our kids are properly accredited and paid a living wage!

(Eduardo Contreras/The San Diego Union-Tribune)

Child care workers’ college costs covered under new San Diego County program

By Kristen Taketa, San Diego Union-Tribune | 10/2/2022