AUGUSTA - Today, Speaker Ryan Fecteau and Governor Janet Mills joined child care workers to celebrate a bill to recruit and retain Maine's child care workforce. The bill,
LD 1652 would enshrine an investment in Maine's child care workforce into law, even after one-time federal dollars dedicated to supporting Maine's child care providers through ARPA dollars expire in the fall of 2022.
Speaker Fecteau's bill would provide Maine's child care workforce with a monthly wage increase and funds expanded early childhood education programs at Maines Career and Technical Education schools. In order to incentivize professional development in the field, a tiered wage supplement will be available for all Maine child care workers starting in July 2023, where higher monthly wage supplements are tied to years of experience and higher education attained, helping Maine lead the nation with a world-class child care system.
"Now that this bill has passed, and $200 monthly stipends will continue, I believe Maines example will lead the country, showing other states how to build a world class child care system that works for all. I predict other states will recognize that wage increases like Maine has introduced are a step forward in addressing the disparity and inequities in our nations child care system," said Speaker Ryan Fecteau.
"We know that lack of quality affordable child care prevents people from taking jobs, from starting new businesses, from moving to rural communities, and it deprives kids of important developmental care. We've worked hard to train more child care workers and to pay them what they deserve, and we've built new child care facilities and created more child care slots to better serve Maine families, but we can do more," said Governor Janet Mills. "I support Speaker Fecteau's proposal to raise the pay of child care workers in Maine, which is why I included funding to get it done in my supplemental budget, and I applaud lawmakers for voting unanimously to move this legislation forward. I look forward to continuing to do everything we can for working families across our state."
"Child care providers support our families, small businesses and overall economy, all while making sure our kids get what they need to be successful. But stagnant wages have made it difficult for exceptional child care workers to remain in a field they love and afford to make ends meet," said Senate President Troy Jackson of Allagash. "It's why I'm so proud to have cosponsored Speaker Fecteau's bill. By boosting wages and training, we can ensure that Maine child care workers are supported and compensated as the professionals they are and for the invaluable service they provide our state. To truly improve access to quality, affordable child care in Maine, lawmakers must partner with parents, providers, businesses and communities to build a system that works for everyone."
"In order to grow our economy and strengthen our communities, it is necessary to invest in our early childhood education workforce," said Rep. Amanda Collamore (R) of Pittsfield. "This bill, and the collaborative process that it envisions, is a step in the right direction. When we devote time, energy and resources toward early childhood education, we are nurturing seeds that will bloom in the future."
"During this national Week of the Young Child, today is known as 'Work Together Wednesday," said Tara Williams, executive director of the Maine Association for the Education of Young Children. "It is the perfect day to celebrate how our state leaders, policymakers, business leaders, advocates, and child care professionals have been working together this year to move forward child care workforce support in Maine."
"The work being done here in the state of Maine to uplift and invest in early care and education is vital and needs to be celebrated," said Gina Forbes, early educator and parent. "I applaud the recent passing of LD 1652 and urge continued support for Governor Mills proposed $12 million dollar investment in the child care workforce. High quality early education and care is the backbone of our society and we need to fund it accordingly. Our children, families and educators deserve nothing less."
The bill has now been passed by the House and Senate and has been voted into the supplemental budget by the Appropriations Committee.
Jenna Howard (Fecteau), 214-3185
Photo: Speaker Fecteau marks the passage of a milestone childcare workforce bill with Governor Mills, Representative Collamore, CTE students and child care workers from across Maine.