McKee, DHS announce salary supplement for early childhood educators

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — On Tuesday Gov. Dan McKee announced a salary supplement program for early childhood professionals.

The Step Up to Child Care WAGE$ Program is a partnership between the state Department of Human Services and the Rhode Island Association for the Education of Young Children.

The program was created by the Child Care Services Association in North Carolina and is designed to increase retention in the childhood education sector.

McKee said the pilot program provides education-based salary supplements to teachers, directors, and family child care providers working with young children.

Any educator earning at or below the income cap of $23 per hour and must work with young children for a minimum of 10 hours per week may be eligible for the program.

“Our focus remains providing the best education possible for each and every Rhode Islander, and it is important that we provide early childhood professionals with the resources to ensure our youngest learners are prepared to receive a 21st century education,” McKee said.

Interested professionals can learn more about eligibility at https://teach-ri.org/wage.