Fight for Fair Compensation | Minnesota Associatio

Fair compensation for early childhood educators is essential to a strong, sustainable system in Minnesota. Early educators are the foundation of our workforce—supporting children’s development during the most critical years while making it possible for children, families, and communities to thrive. Join @NAEYC and MnAEYC in standing up for the educators our system depends on. #ValueVoiceVote

Minnesota Association for the Education of Young Children (MnAEYC), the Minnesota affiliate of the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), will join educators and advocates across the country in observing Worthy Wage Day on May 1— an annual call for fair compensation for the early childhood workforce.

Early childhood educators in Minnesota earn an average of $13.66 per hour, that is 45% less than average living wage for a single adult in Minnesota ($24.96/hr). Despite their critical role in children’s development and the documented impact of high-quality early learning on lifelong outcomes, compensation for the ECE workforce has remained chronically low — driving high turnover that destabilizes programs and families.

“Worthy Wage Day is a critical moment to recognize the deep inequities facing Minnesota’s early childhood workforce,” said Jodie Riek, President of the Minnesota Association for the Education of Young Children (MnAEYC). “Educators who are foundational to children’s development and family stability are earning far below a living wage. This ongoing undervaluation is not only driving burnout and workforce shortages, but also limiting access to care for families across our state. If we are serious about supporting children and communities, we must be equally serious about investing in the professionals who make that possible.”

This year’s Worthy Wage Day is part of Value. Voice. Vote. NAEYC’s 2026 campaign connecting fair compensation for early childhood educators to the power of civic participation. NAEYC celebrates its centennial and 100 years of working to advance the field

MnAEYC is encouraging Minnesota educators, families, and community leaders to contact your legislators and share your story using #ValueVoiceVote.

For more information, visit NAEYC.org/value-voice-vote

TEMPLATE TO CONTACT YOUR MINNESOTA STATE LEGISLATOR

Subject: Support Worthy Wages for Minnesota’s Early Childhood Workforce

Dear [Legislator’s Name],

My name is [Your Name], and I am a [early childhood educator/family member/community leader] in [City/Community], Minnesota. I am writing in recognition of Worthy Wage Day (May 1) to urge you to prioritize policies that ensure fair compensation and meaningful support for early childhood educators across our state.

Early childhood educators play a critical role in shaping the development, well-being, and future success of Minnesota’s children. Every day, they create environments where children find their voice, families feel supported, and learning thrives. These moments are not incidental—they are the result of highly skilled, dedicated professionals whose work has lasting impact.

Yet, despite this essential role, early childhood educators continue to be undervalued and underpaid. Compensation does not reflect the expertise, responsibility, and impact of the profession. This disconnect contributes to high turnover, workforce shortages, and program closures—ultimately limiting access to care for families across Minnesota.

Worthy Wage Day is more than a moment of recognition—it is a call to action. Appreciation must be matched with real investment, fair compensation, and sustainable workforce policies that allow educators to remain in the field and thrive.

I respectfully urge you to:

Support policies that increase wages and benefits for early childhood educators
Invest in workforce retention and recruitment strategies
Strengthen systems that ensure access to high-quality early learning for all families

When we invest in early childhood educators, we invest in children, families, and the long-term well-being of our communities.

Thank you for your time, your leadership, and your commitment to Minnesota’s youngest learners. I would welcome the opportunity to share more about my experiences and perspectives.

Sincerely,

[Your Name]
[Your Title/Role]
[Your Organization, if applicable]
[Your City, MN]
[Your Contact Information]