This spring, educators across the country raised their voices about the need for fair compensation. Their message—that early childhood educators deserve wages reflecting the importance and expertise of their work—doesn’t end in May. It continues over the summer, particularly during August recess. This is when elected officials are in their communities, meeting with constituents, visiting local programs, and listening.
Your experiences will help shape the decisions legislators make when they return to Washington. They need to know what it means to do this work, what compensation realities look like, and how those realities affect children and families. At the same time, the policies that influence compensation are shaped not only by conversations, but also by civic participation. Speaking up and voting are key components of the same advocacy work.
Here are a few ways to make the most of this summer’s recess.
R: Reach Out
Contact your members of Congress to request a meeting or to invite them to a local event. Let them know that early childhood educators in their communities want to talk about compensation and ways to sustain the profession.
E: Extend Invitations
Invite elected officials or their staff to visit your program. Seeing your work firsthand makes clear the connections between policy decisions and daily realities.
C: Connect the Message to Compensation
Share your story. What would improved compensation mean in your life, your program, and your community? Personal experiences help ground broader policy conversations.
E: Engage as a Civic Participant
Take time to check or update your voter registration. Note key deadlines in your state, and stay informed about upcoming elections. When you vote, your advocacy work continues.
S: Share Your Voice
Use social media or other community spaces to talk about why early childhood education and fair compensation matter. Public conversations help elevate the issues and build awareness.
S: Support One Another
Encourage a colleague to take one step, whether it’s attending an event, sharing their story, or checking their voter registration. Collective action starts with individual connections.
August recess is a reminder that advocacy is ongoing and grows stronger when early childhood educators use every opportunity to be heard. These summer actions help ensure that your voice is not only raised, but ready to be counted—shaping the decisions that affect early childhood education every day.
Copyright © 2026 by the National Association for the Education of Young Children. See permissions and reprints online at NAEYC.org/resources/permissions.