Early Childhood Educator Pay Equity Fund

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Application Now Open for Fiscal Year 2023 (FY23)!

The Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE) and AidKit will continue to distribute payments directly to eligible early childhood educators through the Early Childhood Educator Pay Equity Fund in FY23. Eligible early childhood educators can receive up to four payments of up to $3,500 each between October 2022 and September 2023.

Newly hired and newly eligible early childhood educators are encouraged to apply now! Click here to access the application. Early childhood educators who require assistance accessing or completing the application should email [email protected] or call (202) 831-9298 for support.

Applications are due by 5 p.m. on May 15, 2023 to receive a supplemental payment for quarter three of FY23.

Application Resources

Early childhood educators who received a payment through AidKit in FY22 and remain employed in an eligible Staff Type in a child development facility licensed by OSSE do not need to submit another application to receive FY23 payments.

About the Early Childhood Educator Pay Equity Fund

Background

The Early Childhood Educator Equitable Compensation Task Force Temporary Amendment Act authorized OSSE to disburse pay equity funds to support pay parity for early childhood educators in accordance with the recommendations of the Early Childhood Educator Equitable Compensation Task Force.

In February 2022, the Task Force recommended that OSSE partner with an intermediary organization to distribute one-time pay supplements to eligible early childhood educators in fiscal year 2022 (FY22), while developing a longer-term system that will distribute funds to child development facilities that enter into an agreement with OSSE to pay eligible early childhood educators wages that reflect the recommendations of the Early Childhood Educator Equitable Compensation Task Force. In April 2022, the Task Force published a final report that provided additional recommendations regarding minimum compensation levels for early educators based on roles and credentials. The Task Force’s recommendations were incorporated by the DC Council in the Fiscal Year 2023 Budget Support Act of 2022, DC Act 24-470. OSSE is implementing the Early Childhood Educator Pay Equity Fund in compliance with this legislation and the spirit of the Task Force’s recommendations.

In May 2022, OSSE announced it selected AidKit, a social impact company specializing in administering efficient and secure direct cash aid programs at scale, to administer the Early Childhood Educator Pay Equity Fund. As the administrator, AidKit is delivering funds to eligible early educators and providing technical assistance in FY22 and FY23.

FY23

In June 2022, the DC Council passed legislation that authorizes OSSE to continue distribution of direct payments to eligible early childhood educators in FY23. Funds will be distributed in four quarterly payments that will be distributed in December 2022, March 2023, June 2023 and September 2023.

Early childhood educators who received pay equity funds in FY22 and remain employed in an eligible role in a child development facility licensed by OSSE can expect to receive further payments distributed by AidKit between October 2022 and September 2023. Prior to each payment distribution, AidKit will send a communication to early childhood educators who previously received funds, notifying them of the upcoming payment. The communication will include a link that eligible early childhood educators can use to review their payment information, update payment information if a change has occurred or decline to receive a payment. If the eligible early childhood educator takes no action, payment will automatically be sent via the same payment method through which prior payments were disbursed to the eligible early childhood educator; no further action is required.

Newly hired and newly eligible early childhood educators must submit an application to AidKit in order to receive supplemental payments in FY23. The application launched on Nov. 1, 2022 and will remain open until 5 p.m. on Aug. 15, 2023. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis. Newly hired and newly eligible early childhood educators should be diligent of the application due date for each quarter. Once an eligible early childhood educator has been approved for any FY23 supplemental payment, they do not need to complete additional applications, but will automatically receive remaining FY23 quarterly payments as long as they remain employed in an eligible Staff Type in a child development facility licensed by OSSE.

FY23 Resources

FY23 Eligibility Policy

In order to be eligible to receive a supplemental payment distribution from the Early Childhood Educator Pay Equity Fund for FY23, an early childhood educator must meet the following requirements:

Be employed in a child development facility licensed by OSSE
- Employment confirmed through staff record in the Division of Early Learning Licensing Tool (DELLT)
Have employment start date on or before the first day of the month prior to the month in which payment is distributed (e.g., Nov. 1, 2022, Feb. 1, 2023, May 1, 2023 and Aug. 1, 2023).
- Employment start date is based on the staff record in DELLT
Be employed in an eligible role (e.g., Assistant Teacher, Associate Caregiver, Montessori Assistant Teacher, Teacher, Expanded Home Provider, Home Provider or Montessori Teacher)
- Eligibility is determined based on the Staff Type listed in DELLT
Work at least 10 hours a week in a child development facility licensed by OSSE
- Hours of employment self-certified in application
Have an approved supplemental payment application submitted to AidKit
- Newly hired or newly eligible staff must submit an application in order to receive funds
- Early childhood educators who received a prior payment through AidKit and remain employed in an eligible Staff Type in a child development facility licensed by OSSE do not need to submit another application to receive future payments

NOTE: Lead Teachers in Pre-K Enhancement and Expansion Program (PKEEP) classrooms and staff employed at DC Public Schools (DCPS) and public charter schools are not eligible to receive funds through the Early Childhood Educator Pay Equity Fund.

FY23 Payment Distribution Timeline and Application Deadlines for Newly Hired and Newly Eligible Early Childhood Educators

Quarter One Payment

Month of distribution: December 2022
Must have start date on or before: Nov. 1, 2022
Application submission deadline: 5 p.m. on Nov. 15, 2022

Quarter Two Payment

Month of distribution: March 2023
Must have start date on or before: Feb. 1, 2023
Application submission deadline: 5 p.m. on Feb. 15, 2023

Quarter Three Payment

Month of distribution: June 2023
Must have start date on or before: May. 1, 2023
Application submission deadline: 5 p.m. on May 15, 2023

Quarter Four Payment

Month of distribution: September 2023
Must have start date on or before: Aug. 1, 2023
Application submission deadline: 5 p.m. on Aug. 15, 2023

FY23 Quarterly Payment Amounts

Quarterly payments will be determined based on the combination of Staff Type and full- or part-time status as of first day of the month prior to the month in which payment is distributed (e.g., Nov. 1, 2022, Feb. 1, 2023, May 1, 2023 and Aug. 1, 2023).

ECE I: Assistant Teacher, Associate Caregiver or Montessori Assistant Teacher
- Full-Time: $2,500
- Part-Time: $1,250
ECE 2: Teacher, Expanded Home Provider, Home Provider or Montessori Teacher
- Full-Time: $3,500
- Part-time: $1,750

FY24 and Beyond

Starting in FY24 (October 2023), OSSE will shift to distributing funds to child development facilities; facilities that accept funds will be required to pay eligible early childhood educators wages that reflect the recommendations of the Early Childhood Educator Equitable Compensation Task Force. More information about these salaries and requirements for providers and eligible staff is available here.

Previous Years