PAOLI, PA — Facing an urgent early childhood education staffing crisis, State Representative Melissa Shusterman states she will present a legislative proposal designed to recruit and retain educators critical to Pennsylvania’s childcare system. The initiative seeks to directly address the long-standing issues of low wages and insufficient funding, which are undermining access to affordable childcare and creating obstacles for the state’s working families.
The severity of the crisis is clear. A 2023 survey revealed that more than 4,000 staff positions in Pennsylvania childcare centers remain unfilled, forcing half of these facilities to close at least one classroom. Additionally, 85% of centers report being short-staffed. According to PennAEYC, low pay is the primary driver of these shortages. Pennsylvania childcare workers earn an average of $15.15 per hour, with a median annual salary of $28,000—well below the national median salary of $36,350 for early childhood educators. The March 2024 Independent Fiscal Office report further revealed that these wages fail to meet the cost of living in every one of the state’s 67 counties.
While recent state budgets included increased funding for early childhood education, Shusterman argues these measures have not gone far enough to address systemic wage deficiencies. “Employers need workers and working families need childcare they can afford,” Shusterman said. “Many families pay as much for child care as they do for rent or a mortgage. Increasing the wages of our child care professionals can not be solved by increasing the costs families pay. To address this crisis, our Commonwealth must step up with more solutions to support working families and grow our workforce.”
The legislative package outlines several key initiatives. It introduces salary supplements for early childhood education professionals, ensures pay parity across certification grade spans, and includes an early childhood educator tuition assistance program. Additionally, a grant program is proposed to expand childcare access in rural areas through public-private partnerships.
This initiative follows a successful legislative effort by Shusterman and Representative Tina Davis in 2023 to expand Pennsylvania’s Child and Dependent Care Enhancement Tax Credit. That measure increased tax relief for working families but, as Shusterman noted, tax credits alone are insufficient to reverse the childcare staffing crisis.
For families, affordable childcare access remains essential for balancing careers and household needs. High childcare expenses—often comparable to housing costs—place immense pressure on parents, forcing many to leave the workforce altogether. Employers also face mounting challenges as labor participation declines due to limited childcare options.
Shusterman’s legislative efforts highlight the broader stakes, aiming to not only stabilize the childcare sector but also enhance Pennsylvania’s economic resilience through increased workforce participation. If passed, the proposed measures could provide a sustainable framework for addressing the state’s childcare challenges while ensuring educators receive the compensation and support they deserve.
The legislative package marks a critical step toward bolstering early childhood education and supporting families statewide. Lawmakers are expected to begin reviewing the proposals in the coming weeks.
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