Ready Region Southside is taking bold steps to strengthen the early childhood education workforce by investing in fair compensation for teachers serving our youngest learners. Through a new partnership with Early Education Business Consultants (EEBC), our region is supporting early childhood providers in identifying sustainable strategies to increase teacher wages and move toward wage parity with Virginia’s public school system.
This initiative, launched in partnership with EEBC, is focused initially on Mixed Delivery programs, but the long-term vision extends far beyond. The ultimate goal is to achieve increased pay for all early childhood educators, ensuring that every teacher, regardless of setting, earns a wage that reflects the importance and complexity of their work.
The Mixed Delivery Wage Parity Project is part of a broader regional and statewide effort to address compensation disparities that have long challenged the early childhood field. EEBC will lead customized business training sessions and develop a provider dashboard that helps programs better understand their current wage and benefits data. This approach allows leaders to make informed, sustainable business decisions that strengthen both their financial foundations and their teaching teams.
This project aligns closely with the 20 Degrees Early Education Business Academy, which equips childcare providers with tools and training to strengthen financial management, improve business operations, and build long-term sustainability. Together, these efforts form a coordinated strategy to ensure that higher wages are achievable and maintainable over time, not just temporary boosts, but lasting progress.
Fair pay for early childhood educators is not just a workforce issue; it’s a quality issue. When teachers are valued and compensated equitably, classrooms are more stable, turnover decreases, and children benefit from consistent, high-quality instruction during their most critical years of development.
As Ready Region Southside continues to invest in educator development and program quality, we recognize that increasing teacher pay is foundational to achieving lasting impact for children, families, and communities. Wage parity is not just about fairness; it’s about building a stronger foundation for the future of early learning in Virginia.