Biden’s Plan Would Raise Salaries for Head Start Teachers, But Could Reduce Enrollment

WASHINGTON (NEWSnet/AP) — A new plan from the Biden administration could increase salaries significantly for thousands of early-childhood teachers, but it might force some centers to reduce enrollment.

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ proposed rule would require Head Start programs to increase teachers’ wages to put them on par with local public school teachers, and to enhance benefits. The requirement could raise wages by as much as $10,000 for Head Start teachers over the next seven years, the agency estimates.

“Early educators make poverty wages in many places," said Anna Markowitz, a University of California Los Angeles professor who has studied Head Start turnover and wages. “There are real consequences to these low wages.” She said "it's unfortunate we had to wait for the turnover to become a major crisis.”

Head Start teachers, many of whom are required to have a bachelor's degree, make about $39,000 a year on average, far less than educators with similar credentials. Head Start teacher turnover has doubled during the last decade. The federal government estimates one in five Head Start teachers left the classroom in 2022.

That has created problems for the country's youngest students. Nearly 275,000 infants, toddlers and preschoolers are on waiting lists nationwide, according to National Head Start Association. The federally funded program is designed to provide no-cost education in locally run classrooms situated in public schools, community centers and private day care or preschool facilities. Taxpayers spend about $12 billion for Head Start to serve about 1 million children.

The number of youth in classrooms could shrink, though, if teacher salaries are raised and Congress doesn't grant more money for the program. Biden asked Congress for an additional $1 billion for Head Start in 2023.

Health and Human Services is counting on Congress to provide additional funding, which is why it's giving programs until 2031 to increase salaries to match local teacher pay. The administration believes the program can maintain current capacity with the wage increases, said Katie Hamm, deputy assistant secretary for Office of Early Childhood Development.

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