The Biden administration is set to increase salaries for educators in the early childhood program Head Start to address a critical workforce shortage. Under new rules released Friday, large operators must ensure their staff receive comparable pay to local school district employees by 2031 and provide healthcare. Smaller operators, serving fewer than 200 families, need to demonstrate efforts to raise wages but face less stringent requirements.
As Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra put it, "We can't expect to find and hire quality teachers who can make this a career if they're not going to get a decent wage." The shortage has forced many Head Start programs to reduce service levels; they currently accommodate around 650,000 preschool-age children compared to over a million previously. In 2022, a significant portion of Head Start teachers left for better-paying jobs in other sectors, and some operators have even had to shut down centers.
Head Start teachers, most of whom hold bachelor's degrees, earn under $40,000 annually, less than their counterparts in similar roles. Established during the 1960s War on Poverty, the program targets the most vulnerable populations, including low-income families and those in foster care or experiencing homelessness. Efforts to increase pay have bipartisan support, with Congress boosting funding for cost-of-living adjustments this year. However, there are lingering concerns that the new mandates, which aren't paired with additional funding, could lead to further slot reductions. (This story was generated by Newser's AI chatbot. Source: the AP)
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