AFT stands up for early childhood educators!

Learn more about previous AFT early childhood education action campaigns:

We're Hanging by a Thread! Worthy Wages for Early Childhood Educators!
Drawing national attention to the early childhood staffing crisis, AFT members visited the "Today" show and the halls of Congress on Worthy Wage Day 2007. They also sent more than 1,000 email messages spreading the word. Click here for highlights.

We Can't Make It with Play Dough!
On Worthy Wage Day 2006, 3,000 messages were delivered to Congress putting them on notice that they need to address the issues of low pay and high turnover that continue to plague our profession. The AFT was filled with pride as they stormed the halls of Congress armed with both cans of Play-Doh ® and the messages submitted that early childhood educators can't make it with "play dough." View the Worthy Wage Day 2006 Photo Gallery.

Head Start: Remember the Teachers!
Current proposals to raise standards for Head Start teachers include a provision calling for current teachers to have a bachelor's degree within five years and all new teachers to have an associate's degree. However, Congress allocates no money to help teachers achieve these goals! If we want quality education for Head Start children, we must be willing to help teachers as they work toward, and ultimately reach, this goal. The AFT sent letters to Congress asking them to provide stipends for teachers with degrees, increase salaries based upon education levels, and give scholarships to teachers working on a degree in early childhood education.

Losing Ground in Early Childhood Education
A study recently released by the Economic Policy Institute (EPI), "Losing Ground in Early Childhood Education," uses hard numbers and detailed statistics to spell out what so many of us in early childhood education already know-the profession is under-paid and under-appreciated. The AFT sent messages to governors to let them know that there is a crisis in our profession!

Worthy Wage Day: Don't Make Us Work for Peanuts!
Did you know the average early childhood educator is paid less than the average parking lot attendant? Yes, that's right-you can earn more watching cars than educating children. Whether you're an early childhood educator yourself, or just someone who thinks this is plain "nuts"-we need your help. The AFT sent more than 5,000 letters to elected officials telling them that it's wrong to make early childhood educators work for peanuts. View the Worthy Wage Day 2005 Photo Gallery.

Loan Forgiveness: Close the Loophole!
The AFT told congressional representatives that it is time to close the loophole and provide the same student loan forgiveness programs to early educators that are currently offered to K-12 teachers. Providing loan forgiveness to deserving early childhood education teachers who are increasing their credentials is one way to keep them in the field and reward them for the great work that they do. (For more information on Federal Loan Forgiveness Programs, please go here.)

Proposition 82 in California: The Fight Continues
Working with our allies across the country, the AFT was able to generate support for Prop. 82-also known as the "Preschool for All Initiative." Prop. 82 would have given a free, high-quality preschool education to every four-year-old in California. Unfortunately, the intiative failed at the polls.

Washington Residents Act Now To Support Early Childhood Teachers
A letter-writing campaign was initiated by the AFT in support of Washington State early childhood teachers for a career and wage ladder. The career and wage ladder provides increased wages based on experience, responsibility and education to the state's early childhood teachers. Pictured left are members of First Class Teachers in Washington with Gov. Gregoire as she signs the Career and Wage Ladder bill.