The Sandbox: The Workforce Behind the Workforce: Building Systemic Support for ECE Educators
The early care and education (ECE) workforce is the backbone of Montgomery County’s economy. They’re the brain builders shaping the next generation while making it possible for families to work. And yet, the people who do this critical work are struggling. Across the County, the state, and the nation, we face a growing ECE workforce shortage. Educators often earn too little to make ends meet, lack access to benefits, and face challenging working conditions. During the COVID-19 pandemic, thousands of Montgomery County ECE educators left the workforce, and we have yet to regain what we lost. Without systemic change, these pressures threaten the foundation of our child care system – and by extension, our economy.
The data tells a clear story about the need for collective support and systems transformation. The newly released Montgomery County Early Care and Education Workforce and Compensation Study offers a comprehensive view of the challenges these workers face. Among its key findings: 88% of educators earn below the County’s self-sufficiency threshold, 92% earn less than an entry-level Montgomery County Public School teacher, and fewer than one-third have employee-provided health insurance. Nearly half say that they don’t expect to be with their current employer in five years, with low compensation cited as the top reason for leaving. You can explore the full report and the community brief here.
The study also provides a roadmap for action that includes both local- and state-level strategies. The Children’s Opportunity Alliance has a goal of growing the ECE workforce to 12,000 by 2030 through efforts to both recruit and retain educators – but these efforts must be strategic, scalable, and sustainable. Locally, we can expand access to bonuses and stipends, establish dedicated funding steams, and leverage shared services to offer pooled health and retirement benefits. But the reality is that sustainable change will require statewide leadership, including policies that support professional growth.
Montgomery Moving Forward (MMF) is already a leader in strategic state-level work to support the ECE workforce. They are advancing a Call to Action with three key strategies, advocating for:
A Workforce Registry, which is an integrated approach to supporting and tracking the growth of Maryland’s ECE professionals
An ECE career ladder to promote accessibility, consistency, and clear compensation strategies for the ECE profession
A statewide cross-sector task force on the ECE Workforce to elevate the importance of this workforce to the state’s economic development
MMF is currently gathering feedback on these strategies through a poll, and they need your voice. If you’re an educator, administrator, or advocate, please take a few minutes to complete and share the MMF poll to help shape the future of the ECE workforce.
In early 2026, the Alliance plans to host an ECE Educator Town Hall, an opportunity for educators to share their stories directly with elected leaders to ensure they understand how critical supporting the workforce is to the children and families of our County. Stay tuned for more details, and consider joining the Town Hall Planning Committee to help us make it a success.
Breaking down barriers to high-quality early care and education means addressing the interconnected needs of affordability, family navigation, and workforce advancement. Too often, the workforce is left out of the conversation. It’s time to put educators where they belong: at the center of the equation for the success of our children and our economy.