Press Release

Statement from Sandra Feldman, President of the American Federation of Teachers, on National Child Care Worthy Wage Day

Designating May 1, 2003 as National Child Care Worthy Wage Day is a good start in recognizing the immense contribution that early childhood educators make on preparing our children for school. An even better follow-up to that is making sure that all early childhood workers are well-trained to help our youngest children to learn. Senator Dodd and Congressman Miller have taken a step forward in this effort by re-introducing their Focus On Committed and Underpaid Staff for Children’s Sake Act (FOCUS). FOCUS will help to attract and retain qualified child care providers and help in the effort to provide them better wages and benefits and in turn high quality early childhood education for all children.