In order to maintain – much less expand – child care capacity and improve quality, early childhood educators need to be paid more.

In testimony delivered to the New York State Joint Legislative Hearing on Human Services for the 2023-24 Executive Budget, Lauren Melodia, deputy director of economic and fiscal policies at Center for New York City Affairs (CNYCA), urged lawmakers to raise compensation for childcare providers workers. She cited the low wages of childcare workers and family child care providers in particular as a major source in the continued decline in the state’s licensed and regulated childcare facilities and capacity. 

Melodia suggested several priorities for the State legislative session to stabilize the childcare industry in an effort to expand capacity to meet demand. First, the State can invest in an emergency compensation fund to retain workers in this essential industry, who are leaving for jobs in retail and fast food where there are higher wages. Next, the State can remove administrative hurdles for providers to access current reimbursement rates and change its methodology for determining reimbursement rates in the future to guarantee living wages for childcare workers.  These policy recommendations are essential to ensuring the child care industry can continue to serve its crucial purpose as a lifeline for families and protect the livelihoods of its workers.

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