Early Childhood Workforce Compensation

The Colorado Early Childhood Benefits Research Study developed benefits package recommendations to enhance the compensation and job quality of the early care and education field. The Study explores the opportunities and challenges of expanding access to health insurance, retirement, and paid time off (PTO) benefits as part of a broader compensation package.

• Colorado Early Childhood Benefits Research Study
• Estudio de Investigación de Beneficios de la Primera Infancia de Colorado

The new plan — Pathways to Success: Colorado’s Comprehensive Early Childhood Workforce Plan — celebrates the strides Colorado has made in the past four decades investing in the early childhood workforce and improving outcomes for children and families. The plan has been designed to both address immediate priorities and provide a visionary outlook for future iterations and updates, recognizing the evolving needs of Colorado’s early childhood workforce.

• Full Plan in English
• Full Plan in Spanish
• Full Plan in Arabic
• Communications Toolkit
• Webinar on the Plan: Recording, Slides

Colorado’s Early Childhood Compensation & Benefits Task Force was launched by the Colorado Department of Early Childhood to address the undercompensation of the early childhood workforce. The Task Force, through engagement with a broad range of early childhood providers and advocates, developed a compensation plan inclusive of salary scales and stipend recommendations. The stipends are intended to provide short-term relief to the existing workforce on the way to the longer-term systemic reform provided by the salary scales.

• Colorado Early Childhood Compensation & Benefits Task Force. March 2023
  • El Grupo de Trabajo para la Compensación y los Beneficios de la Primera Infancia de Colorado 
• Fact Sheets
  • Providers: Creating a New Compensation Structure for Early Educators in Colorado
    • Proveedores: Creación de una nueva estructura de compensación para los educadores de la primera infancia en Colorado
  • Supporters: Creating a New Compensation Structure for Early Educators in Colorado
    • Partidarios: Creación de una nueva estructura de compensación para los educadores de la primera infancia en Colorado
  • Policymakers: Creating a New Compensation Structure for Early Educators in Colorado 
    • ​​Legisladores: Creación de una nueva estructura de compensación para los educadores de la primera infancia en Colorado

The Colorado Department of Early Childhood (CDEC) received a 3 year capacity-building grant (2024-2027) from the Early Educator Investment Collaborative to explore innovative approaches for long-term, sustained increases to the salaries and benefits of early educators. CDEC will collaborate with the Governor’s Office, Colorado Department of Labor and Employment, Colorado Department of Higher Education, Colorado Department of Human Services and the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade. 

• Overview Presentation on the Grant

The Early Childhood Leadership Commission (ECLC), Colorado’s federally authorized state advisory council for early childhood, has an Early Childhood Workforce Development Subcommittee tasked with developing recommendations for a quality, cohesive professional development and career advancement system for professionals working with young children. For more information on how to participate in the bimonthly public meetings or join the subcommittee and related working groups, visit the ECLC website.