Hundreds of Philadelphians gathered at City Hall on Monday to demand better support for early childhood education, a field they say is understaffed, underresourced, and underappreciated. The rally was part of a national protest, Day Without Childcare, highlighting the challenges faced by child care workers.
“We are the people raising your kids,” said Tyrone Scott, director of government and external affairs at First Up, an early childhood advocacy group. “Acknowledge us.”
Scott addressed the challenges faced by early childhood education providers, noting severe staffing shortages and rising costs that have led to classroom closures and limited access to free public pre-K and childcare services in Philadelphia.
Philadelphia City Council President Kenyatta Johnson, who has personally used child care services for his children, joined the rally and announced plans to establish a city task force aimed at prioritizing the needs of child care workers.
“Our teachers, our workers who come in every day, you deserve a raise and better benefits,” Johnson said. “If we can support developers with subsidies, we can find ways to support the essential service of early childhood education.”
While Johnson did not specify how the task force would operate, rally participants emphasized their intention to hold officials accountable for the proposed initiative.
To create the task force, Johnson will need to draft a resolution detailing its function before presenting it to the City Council for approval. Johnson hopes to have the resolution voted on before the council’s summer recess begins on June 12, according to his communications director, Vincent Thompson. If approved, the task force could begin its work as early as late summer or fall.
In addition to local efforts, early childhood advocates are urging Pennsylvania lawmakers to support Governor Josh Shapiro’s proposal for $55 million in child care workforce recruitment and retention grants. These grants aim to raise wages by about $1,000 per employee. However, Scott emphasized that the plan is just a starting point, estimating that early childhood educators in most Pennsylvania counties would need at least $5,000 more to achieve a living wage.
In Philadelphia, the average full-time hourly rate for early childhood teachers was $14.37 in 2021, equating to an annual income of $29,884. Last year, Mayor Cherelle Parker introduced bonuses for some early childhood teachers, but workers continue to push for more significant wage increases.
Lisa Burden, administrative director at Your Child’s World child care center, shared that rising operational costs are making it difficult to sustain high-quality care. She explained that many of her teachers rely on federal food benefits and other government assistance to continue working in the field, despite the financial strain. Some staff members have left for higher-paying jobs in retail and fast food industries.
“We need more money to pay our staff and to keep up with rising costs,” Burden said. “There are many children with special needs now, and we need more teachers in every classroom.”
Erica Fitzgerald, an educator at Lovie Lee’s Stars of Tomorrow child care center, echoed Burden’s concerns, stating that temporary solutions like bonuses and grants are insufficient. She called for long-term wage increases to ensure stability in the workforce.
“We want stable wages,” Fitzgerald said.
Sharmaine Wims attended the rally with her grandson, Zah-Fir, a child she has been raising since his father’s death when he was just two months old. Wims emphasized the vital role of Zah-Fir’s teachers at Whiz Kidz Developmental and Early Learning Academy in helping her support him and her other grandchildren.
“These teachers are not babysitting; they’re educating my grandson,” Wims said. “It’s horrible they get paid so little. They deserve more.”
Wims voiced frustration with politicians’ empty promises, demanding that they take action to raise wages for early childhood educators.
“I can’t imagine them not being there,” she said.
The rally underscored growing calls for immediate action to support early childhood education workers and improve conditions for the children they care for. As the city prepares for potential changes, the future of early childhood education in Philadelphia remains uncertain, with advocates pressing for both immediate and long-term solutions.
