Summer Steps for Civic Action

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.