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.

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.

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.

16 Educating Young Children

Summer 2026