Early Educators Celebrate Huge Win in Washington State
Cheer Passage of Child Care Workforce Standards Board Giving Early Educators a Seat at the Table
For Immediate Release: Wednesday, March 4, 2026
Contact: Kristin Hyde, 206-491-0773, kristin@powerhouse-strategic.com
Olympia, WA - Thousands of child care teachers today celebrated a major victory - passage of legislation to give early educators, parents and child care providers a seat at the table in addressing Washington state’s child care crisis. More than 2,000 early educators, parents and other community members signed in support at hearings, sent emails to their lawmakers and hundreds joined rallies in Olympia asking their lawmakers to approve 2SHB1128. Now with the Senate’s vote to approve (28 Ayes to 19 Nays), the measure is now on its way to the House for concurrence and then Governor Ferguson for signing.
Tricia Schroeder, President of SEIU 925, which represents early educators, shared: “Low wages, understaffing, high turnover and high costs at Washington’s 6,000 child care centers are core drivers of a child care crisis that’s impacting millions across the state. Our members turned out again and again to push back on proposed cuts that would especially harm low income families, and educate lawmakers about what’s driving the lack of affordable high quality child care in our state.
Early childhood educators are some of the lowest paid workers in America, struggling to afford housing, food and healthcare, while providing essential services to working families. Child care providers make it possible for people to work and ensure young children receive high quality education in a safe environment and are equipped with the skills they need for school and life, yet most child care providers don't make enough to afford a basic one-bedroom apartment. They skip lunch breaks and work while they are sick because of short staffing, or inadequate time off. The Child Care Workforce Standards Board will bring together workers, employers, parents, and the state to transform the child care industry, and build the child care workforce we desperately need.”
Tammy Grice, an early educator in Tacoma, shared: “I’ve been working with children and their families for more than 30 years. Early educators get treated like babysitters instead of the professionals we are. We don’t just keep children alive. We help them reach their full potential. The lack of support and proper funding for the industry are reasons there is high turnover. When early educators cannot afford the cost of rent, food, health care and other basic needs to survive, they are finding different lines of work. Passage of this legislation gives me hope things can get better.”
Logan Hodge, an early educator in Seattle, shared: “I’m so proud of the educators and organizers who advocated tirelessly for this bill. When we show up and speak out together, we can make this industry better for everyone.”
Ilene Pimpleton, an early educator in Auburn, shared:“Most child care teachers are living one crisis away from losing everything. Thousands of center‑based teachers receive no medical benefits at all, even though they work in environments with persistent exposure to illness and high physical demands. As someone who has devoted years to caring for and teaching young children, I know how essential this work is and how unsustainable it has become for too many of us. The system is asking teachers to carry more than we can continue to bear. I’m thankful Washington lawmakers took such an important step toward building a childcare system that truly works for the people who make it possible."
In Washington state, there are an estimated 20,000 early educators working in more than 6,000 child care facilities, the majority of whom are women, immigrants and people of color. These essential educators are among the lowest paid workers in our economy. Early educators often don’t have access to benefits such as employer-provided health care, consistent meal and rest breaks, and paid time off, driving high turnover and inadequate staffing which impact the quality of care children receive.
Findings from a recent survey of childcare center workers underscore the problem:
88% make $29/hour or less, far below what is needed to afford a modest 1-bedroom apartment in Washington (66% make between $16.66/hour-$25/hour)
81% say they have skipped rest or lunch breaks or worked while sick or with a serious medical condition due to understaffing, not knowing their rights, or inadequate paid time off.
More than half say accessing affordable health insurance is a big challenge
Early educators say they need better pay, better benefits, better staffing and more training to better be able to handle behavioral issues
The Washington Child Care Workforce Standards Board will bring workers, employers, parents, and agencies together to develop rules to improve standards in the industry. Other states have used workforce standards boards to raise standards for similar workforces, including nursing home and domestic workers, including California, Colorado, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, and New York.
The measure to establish a Child Care Workforce Standards Board was supported by SEIU 925, representing thousands of child care workers, the Washington State Labor Council, the Washington State Building and Construction Trades Council, MomsRising, the Imagine Institute, Children’s Campaign Fund, and other stakeholders.
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