Low Wages = Low Quality: Solving the Real Preschool Teacher Crisis

Recruiting and retaining good teachers ranks as one of the most significant roadblocks to solving the preschool quality crisis facing this country. Evidence points to the low wages and benefits offered to preschool teachers as the single most important factor in hiring and keeping good teachers.

Despite the importance of their responsibilities, American preschool teachers are paid less than half of a kindergarten teacher’s salary — less than janitors, secretaries, and others whose jobs require only a high school diploma and a few years experience. Pay and benefits for assistant teachers are even worse, with the full-time average wage too low to keep a family of three out of poverty.

The significance is clear. The social, emotional, educational and economic advantages from high quality preschool programs translate to better lives for children, their families, communities and society as a whole. Yet, poor pay and benefits threaten the delivery of these very high quality programs that can make such a dramatic difference for the nation and its children.