Advocacy for Early Learning

Thank you to all our amazing Teachers!

At Ellis, advocacy is a cornerstone of our mission – a powerful tool we use to champion the needs of our students, families, and the dedicated educators who support them every day.  Ellis is proud to participate in initiatives that champion strong support for city and state funding to expand access to affordable, high-quality early childhood education and to raise educator salaries to reflect the value of their critical work.

As part of these ongoing efforts, Ellis participated in Massachusetts Early Education Advocacy Day at the State House on March 4. This inspiring event brought together educators, families, and community members from across the Commonwealth to speak out for young children and the professionals guiding their development. Government leaders and prominent advocates delivered passionate messages calling for bold changes – including ensuring that families pay no more than 7% of their income on childcare and maintaining consistent access to income-eligible early education programs.

A major focus of the coalition's efforts was urging lawmakers to support a $45 million investment in the provider rate reserve, a key funding stream used to increase early educator compensation. These efforts have already led to a 20% increase in wages over the years for early educators, a meaningful step forward. Still, as Senator Sal DiDomenico emphasized, “We are in a good place, but we want to go even further. We don’t want to lose any of the things we have done so far, and we never want to go back to where we were before.”

Ellis has long been engaged in this movement. Last year, Ms. Alejandra, Lead Teacher of the Caterpillars toddler classroom, stood on the steps of the State House as an educator advocate when Massachusetts passed legislation to make childcare more affordable. Reflecting on the impact of that moment, she shared: “I look forward to a time when my salary meets the basic needs of my family – including living closer to where I work, buying healthy groceries, and maybe even treating my family to dinner at a restaurant once in a while.”

Massachusetts currently leads the nation as the only state to maintain pandemic-level federal funding for early education and care providers, thanks to the leadership of the Healey administration, which has now made this funding permanent. As a result, more families can access childcare at Ellis and across the state, an outcome that reflects what is possible when advocacy, policy, and community commitment come together.

Despite the recent progress, early childhood educators in Massachusetts still earn an average of just $18.30 per hour, amounting to approximately $38,000 annually before taxes. To address the need for better pay, the state is investing in expanded access to professional development and licensing, tailored specifically to the needs of the early education workforce. By making education more accessible, educators can meet the qualifications required for higher-paying roles, such as lead teacher positions that require a bachelor's degree. These investments are designed not only to empower educators but also to create a clear path toward higher compensation and career growth.

Ellis remains committed to advocacy as a force for progress in early childhood education, hoping to build on achievements like increased access to affordable childcare, enhanced educator wages, and sustained state funding. We know the journey is far from over. Achieving true equity requires ongoing investment, strong advocacy, and bold leadership to ensure fair pay for educators and quality learning for every child. Ellis will continue to lead with purpose – amplifying educator and community voices to build a more just, supportive system for our youngest learners and those who nurture them.