The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated challenges facing the early childhood sector, leaving a lasting impact on the recruitment and retention of educators, especially those who teach Georgia’s youngest learners. Additionally, teachers face a new classroom landscape that not only impacts their students, but also their ability to meet their own needs, care for their families, and cultivate their skillsets.
To better understand the experiences of Georgia’s early childhood educators and how to support this crucial workforce, GEEARS: Georgia Early Education Alliance for Ready Students conducted a series of focus groups—16 in total—throughout 2022-23 with early childhood educators from a range of settings, including center- and home-based child care, Head Start, and Georgia’s Pre-K. The quotes that follow are from these focus groups.
"This is my first full year as an assistant teacher, and we had a class of 16. Out of that 16, we had three that didn’t need behavioral accommodations." — Voices from the Field
"I feel that in order to boost morale and keep people in the child care setting, provide that support. Sometimes people need to hear, ‘Hey, good job,’ or ‘I appreciate you doing that for me,’ or ‘I see what you’re doing. I see you’re trying. I see you’re here, you’re showing up.’" — Voices from the Field
"You should make sure that not only are the kids a priority, but I’m a priority, too. Because they wouldn’t be here without me." — Voices from the Field
"I’ve seen a lot of quality teachers leave because they’re not respected. They don’t feel supported in their role as a lead teacher." — Voices from the Field
"It feels better when you have somebody in your corner and…not talking down to you or treating you like some little kid, you know? ‘Oh, your job’s not important. Just do what I say.’ That hurts." — Voices from the Field
"I think it’s more so salary. The bonuses and stipends all sound great, don’t get me wrong. But that salary makes a world of difference to me." — Voices from the Field
"We have to be untraditional. We have to do something that's different that works with individuals outside of the box… You cannot stay in the box." — Voices from the Field
"[If I had benefits], I would quit all my side hustles, stop babysitting every weekend and doing data entry at night. It makes a lot more money than teaching preschool. I have to go make money to pay the bills." — Voices from the Field
"The blinders of privilege are real. And I say that now as a professional after a long career that I have to constantly remind myself of my privilege at this stage of my life and ask myself what if I didn't have, how would I do this?" — Voices from the Field
"You never can figure out a solution if you don't ask why." — Voices from the Field
"We do come out of pocket for our kids. There’s nothing I wouldn’t do for mine." — Voices from the Field
"How do we talk about this in a way that is meaningful and exciting for people who are at a place where they're choosing a career." — Voices from the Field
"I get to teach young, little minds and be the reason why they do things and learn. I have no intentions to do anything else. I love being with them and helping them get a good foundation for their life of learning." — Voices from the Field
"It’s a booming field. It’s always going to be there. Guess what? If someone is an MD, they had a teacher. If someone’s a firefighter, they had a teacher. If somebody’s a janitor, they had a teacher." — Voices from the Field
"If I want to be a director one of these days, what do I need to do to get there? And where do I start?" — Voices from the Field
"As of right now, I think I'm going to be taking a break from Pre-K for a little bit because there's just too much stress." — Voices from the Field
Georgia’s children deserve access to high-quality, affordable child care, and families depend on this care so that they can participate in the workforce—but for too many Georgians, it’s out of reach. Our state’s families with young children need our help now.
One way to help address the state’s child care challenges is through meaningfully funding Georgia’s Childcare and Parent Services (CAPS) Program, which provides scholarships that help some working families with low incomes afford child care. Currently, the program serves only an estimated 14% of income-eligible children due to limited funding. Click here for a one-pager to learn more about the need for additional state funding.
Please join us in asking the Georgia General Assembly to include additional state funding for the CAPS Program in the FY2026 budget. It's crucial that our leaders hear from us now, so please reach out even if you've done so previously.
Other Ways to Take Action:
Georgia’s children deserve access to high-quality, affordable #childcare. Join us in urging Georgia’s leaders to make critical investment in child care TODAY: www.geears.org/caps #GANeedsChildCare #gapol
Georgia's hard-working families need help with child care NOW! The end of federal pandemic relief funding of more than $2 billion, which has been a historic & critical lifeline, is likely to create additional barriers to access & quality. #GANeedsChildCare #gapol
Georgia families with young children continue to experience child care challenges that have been compounded by a series of other stressors, including inflation. Urge GA lawmakers to make critical investment in child care TODAY: www.geears.org/caps #GANeedsChildCare #gapol
Every additional dollar for child care is an investment in Georgia's current and future workforce. Urge GA lawmakers to make critical investment in child care TODAY: www.geears.org/caps #GANeedsChildCare #gapol
Child care challenges in Georgia lead to at least $1.75 billion in losses in economic activity annually.
Georgia lawmakers: Support our current and future workforce by making a critical investment in child care in the FY25 budget! #GANeedsChildCare #gapol
Learning begins long before a child enters Kindergarten. Children who attend high-quality early education are better prepared for success in school. Let's improve #literacy rates by helping more children access child care. #GANeedsChildCare #gapol
Support for state investment in child care is strong and bipartisan. The majority of Georgia voters (65%) support providing state funding to help working families afford child care. Take action: www.geears.org/caps #GANeedsChildCare #gapol
Georgia’s Childcare and Parent Services (CAPS) Program, which provides scholarships that help some working families with low incomes afford child care, serves only an estimated 14% of income-eligible children. Take action: www.geears.org/caps #GANeedsChildCare #gapol
Child care expenses represent more than one-third of the earnings of a family with low income. The lack of affordable child care is keeping Georgians out of the workforce. Take action: www.geears.org/caps #GANeedsChildCare #gapol
Child care is crucial to many families’ economic security and to children’s long-term success. It’s also an integral pillar to supporting Georgia’s economy. Take action: www.geears.org/caps #GANeedsChildCare #gapol
As state leaders think about expanding GA's #workforce, increasing access to #childcare for student parents is critical for helping them complete postsecondary programs, advance their careers, & increase their family's economic stability. #GANeedsChildCare #gapol
Georgia's Childcare and Parent Services (CAPS) Program prioritizes certain populations, including #foster children, to help them access #childcare. We urge GA legislators to include at least $20 million for CAPS in the FY 2024 budget. #GANeedsChildCare #gapol
About two-thirds of Georgia parents with young children report that they or their partner have had to miss a shift or reduce their hours at work because of a problem with child care. #GANeedsChildCare #gapol
Calling child care providers, early educators, & families! Your stories—both positive & negative—are critical to increasing investment in our child care system. Make your voice heard by sharing your experiences with child care by going to www.geears.org/ganeedschildcare #GANeedsChildCare
Calling GA's child care providers! Your stories are critical to increasing investment in our child care system. Join us in improving the lives of young children & the people who care for them by sharing your story with us today: www.geears.org/ganeedschildcare #GANeedsChildCare
We know the hard work of Georgia’s early childhood educators often go unnoticed, including often receiving very low wages. You can make a difference by sharing your story to support our efforts to increase compensation and supports:
www.geears.org/ganeedschildcare #GANeedsChildCare
Georgia child care providers! Legislators need to hear from you about the importance of funding child care! You are the expert—you know firsthand the value of high-quality child care. Urge GA lawmakers to make critical investment in child care TODAY. #GANeedsChildCare #gapol
It has never been more clear that child care is crucial to many parents’ ability to work. Child care challenges in Georgia lead to at least $1.75 billion in losses in economic activity annually.
Georgia lawmakers: Support our current and future workforce by making a critical investment in child care in the FY24 budget! #GANeedsChildCare #gapol
Georgia’s Childcare and Parent Services (CAPS) Program, which provides scholarships that help some working families with low incomes afford child care, serves only an estimated 14% of income-eligible children. Urge GA lawmakers to invest in CAPS TODAY! #GANeedsChildCare #gapol
Georgia’s children deserve access to high-quality, affordable #childcare. Join us in urging Georgia’s leaders to make critical investment in child care. #GANeedsChildCare #gapol
Georgia families with young children continue to experience child care challenges that have been compounded by a series of other stressors, including inflation. Urge GA lawmakers to make critical investment in child care TODAY. #GANeedsChildCare #gapol
Georgia’s children deserve access to high-quality, affordable #childcare. Join us in urging Georgia’s leaders to make critical investment in child care TODAY by using the link in our bio. #GANeedsChildCare #gapol
Child care challenges in Georgia lead to at least $1.75 billion in losses in economic activity annually.
Georgia lawmakers: Support our current and future workforce by making a critical investment in child care in the FY25 budget! #GANeedsChildCare #gapol
Calling child care providers, early educators, & families! Your stories—both positive & negative—are critical to increasing investment in our child care system. Make your voice heard by clicking the link our bio to share your story using our easy-to-use platform.
The Georgia Infant-Toddler Coalition will share your experiences with changemakers to strengthen our advocacy efforts as we work to improve outcomes for families with young children and the people who care for them across Georgia. #GaNeedsChildCare
GA Families: How have child care challenges impacted your participation in the workforce or higher education? #GaNeedsChildCare
GA Families: What has been your experience finding & affording child care? #GaNeedsChildCare
#Georgia: Why should Georgia legislators invest in child care? #GaNeedsChildCare
Child care providers: How does high-quality child care support the families you serve? #GaNeedsChildCare
Join the #GaNeedsChildCare Tweetstorm THIS Thursday, March 21st from 12-2:00 PM to urge Georgia legislators to make critical investment in child care. #gapol
Make your voice heard: Join the #GaNeedsChildCare Tweetstorm THIS Thursday, March 21st from 12-2:00 PM to urge Georgia legislators to make critical investment in child care. #gapol
