The Maine Early Childhood Workforce Salary Supplement System assists eligible child care providers in paying competitive salaries to address challenges in the child care workforce and ensure access to affordable, high-quality child care options for Maine families.
The system provides salary stipends to child care programs for eligible staff based on the educator's level of education and experience.
This system is available to child care providers and early childhood educators who provide direct care and early learning services to children in licensed child care facilities or are licensed family child care providers.
Statute, Rule, & Overview
§3737-A. Early childhood educator workforce salary supplements
Early Childhood Educator Workforce Salary Supplement System Rules (Word)
Early Childhood Educator Workforce Salary Supplement Tiered System Webinar
Eligible Programs
- Hold either Child Care Facility license or Family Child Care license in the State of Maine
- Programs must be open and providing direct care and early learning services to children
- Programs must currently hold OR have applied for an OCFS Vendor Code
Eligible Educators
- Employed by an eligible program
- Registered and active in the ECE workforce registry (MRTQ Registry)
- Must have completed the State approved health and safety training within 90 days of hire
- Must provide direct care and early learning services to children
- Must meet all eligibility requirements in Section 2 of the Rules
- All eligible staff includes family child care providers, owners and directors of programs
|
SALARY Tiers |
ECE Registry Levels (MRTQ Registry) |
Monthly Amount |
|---|---|---|
|
Tier 1 |
Level 1, Level 2, Level 3, Level 4 |
$240 |
|
Tier 2 |
Level 5, Level 6 |
$360 |
|
Tier 3 |
Level 7, Level 8 |
$540 |
To Register for the Salary Program
New providers must first create a profile before registering for the program.
Register here for Early Childhood Educator Workforce Salary Supplement System
Important Reminders
- Child care staff presently in the ECE workforce registry, called the MRTQ Registry, as Level 0 are not eligible for the salary supplement payments. To move from a Level 0 to a Level 1, staff are required to complete the free, on-demand health and safety training, be properly registered in the Registry, and have 30 days of experience to be eligible.
- The Salary Supplement registration portal closes for updates on the last day of the month. While the portal is closed programs cannot go in and make updates. Once the payment process is complete, the portal will re-open and be available for updates until the last day of the month. The portal is typically closed for 5-11 days, depending on weekends, holidays, or other unusual circumstances that could delay the payment.
ECE Workforce Salary Program Contacts
Contact us at ECEWageProgram.DHHS@maine.gov
Diane Nicholson
ECE Workforce Development Program Manager
Tel: (207) 624-7996
e-mail: Diane.Nicholson@maine.gov
Other Information
Department response to public comment (PDF)
Early Childhood Educator Salary Supplement System Rules Memo (PDF)