advocacy

As a universally underpaid and under-benefited field, pay equity is a critical issue for ECE-RJ. Jennie Rubin, Past President and Advisory Board Member, Ellen Lefkowitz, President, and Tricia Ginis, Executive Director of ECE-RJ recently attended the Reform Pay Equity Initiative meeting with colleagues from across the Reform Movement. We are currently prioritizing the following:

Appropriate and equitable hiring practices:

ECE-RJ maintains a job board on our website and provides consultation services to congregations that are undergoing a search for a leadership position (Director or Assistant Director).  In that role, we offer resources through the Reform Pay Equity Initiative (RPEI) and guide congregations using insights from our recent National Study- Compensation and Credentialing in American Jewish Early Childhood Centers (2023).

Additionally, we require that any position listed with us includes a salary range in the posting.  To that end, we include the following statement on our website:  "ECE-RJ aligns with the Central Conference of American Rabbis (CCAR), American Conference of Cantors (ACC), Association of Reform Jewish Educators (ARJE), and the National Association of Temple Administrators (NATA) to mandate that all job postings include a compensation range."

Advocacy:

While we continue to work on raising salaries in our field, we are focusing heavily this year on Retirement benefits (and the lack thereof) for Early Childhood Directors and Assistant Directors.  Too many of our members do not receive any retirement contribution from their congregations; and those that do fall far below the average for other roles in the Reform Movement.  Organizationally, we are approaching this on a national level, but we are additionally working to provide our members with resources, language, and mentorship around how to address these issues on a more local level and in their individual congregations.  

Since October 2023 we have provided the following webinars for our members to help them learn tools for equitable hiring and advocacy:

• This Equitable Hiring Training May 1, 2024 (RPEI)
• Strategies for Negotiation (Fall 2024)
• Advocating for your staff:  how to ensure that your teachers are getting fair salaries (Fall 2024)

ECE-RJ members have continued to struggle with earning a living wage that reflects the level of responsibility, knowledge, and education required of early childhood professionals. This is probably the most significant challenge that has far-reaching implications for both educators and the children they serve. Despite the critical role that early childhood educators play in shaping the foundational experiences of young learners, many of these professionals are underpaid, leading to high turnover rates and a lack of stability in early learning environments. This not only affects the morale of educators but also compromises the quality of education that children receive.

The qualifications and expertise required for early childhood educators have grown considerably, necessitating specialized training and a deep understanding of child development. However, compensation has not kept pace with these increased expectations, resulting in a workforce that often struggles to make ends meet. This discrepancy highlights the urgent need for a reevaluation of salary structures.

To address these issues, a multifaceted approach is essential. First, we must advocate for increased investment in quality Jewish early childhood education, recognizing it as vital to the overall health of the congregation. This includes funding for competitive salaries that reflect the professionalism of the workforce and efforts should be made to implement standardized pay scales that are commensurate with educators' qualifications and experience.

Professional development opportunities should also be prioritized, ensuring that early childhood educators have access to ongoing training and support. This not only enhances their skills but also reinforces the value of their work in the eyes of society.

Finally, raising awareness about the importance of investing in Jewish early childhood education is crucial. Community engagement and advocacy campaigns can help shift this perception, encouraging leaders to take meaningful action to improve wages for early childhood professionals.

By collectively working towards these goals, we can ensure that early childhood educators are compensated fairly, enabling them to focus on their vital role in nurturing and educating the next generation.

Advocacy is a vital pathway to support Jewish early childhood educators in their pursuit of competitive, livable wages. Recognizing the essential role these educators play within Reform Jewish congregations, RPEI can help emphasize the need for fair compensation that reflects their dedication, training, and the significant impact they have on the broader community.

Early childhood programs in Reform Jewish congregations not only serve as foundational educational environments for young children but also contribute significantly to the congregation's overall budget and vitality. These programs often attract new families, bolster membership, and promote active participation among congregants. When congregations invest in fair wages for early childhood educators, they are not only acknowledging the expertise and commitment of these professionals but also recognizing the long-term benefits to the congregation as a whole.

By prioritizing competitive salaries and benefits, congregations can foster stability within their early childhood programs, leading to improved quality of education, greater retention of skilled educators, and enhanced engagement from families. Moreover, well-supported educators are more likely to cultivate enriching learning environments, ultimately benefiting the children and families they serve.

ECE-RJ hopes to leverage the Reform Pay Equity Initiative effectively and hopes congregations consider a comprehensive approach to budgeting that reflects the true costs of quality early childhood education. This includes allocating resources for salaries that are commensurate with the educators' qualifications and responsibilities. Congregations are encouraged to engage in open discussions about the value of early childhood education and its integral role in the life of the congregation.

By aligning financial resources with the value placed on early childhood educators, Reform Jewish congregations can create a supportive environment that not only uplifts their educators but also enriches the entire congregational experience. In doing so, they help ensure that early childhood programs continue to thrive as essential components of community life, nurturing the next generation of Jewish learners and leaders.

Ellen Lefkowitz, President, ECE-RJ

Jennie Rubin, Past President and Reform Pay Equity Initiative Representative, ECE-RJ 

Tricia Ginis, Executive Director, ECE-RJ

In Pirkei Avot, Ethic of The Fathers, we are taught תורה אין, קמח אין, ani kemach ani Torah – “if there is no flour there is no Torah.” Our rabbis go on to teach from this expression that if someone is not able to provide food, they cannot learn or even teach Torah. From this we learn as a community that we must provide for our educators. In New York City through sources of city, state and federal funding, I am able to provide for my talented, qualified and dedicated educators every day while offering a free 3s and 4s education to families. My teachers who hold masters’ degrees and state certifications earn on par with their public school counterparts with a fringe rate calculated at 43%.

For a long time, studies have told us the vast majority of Jewish children do not attend Jewish schools for kindergarten through twelfth grade. However, many more attend Jewish early childhood centers. As different local funding opportunities continue to make their way down the legislative pipeline, our communities must stay up to date and accept this funding. Many synagogues, Jewish community centers and even day schools in New York City are working within the framework of public funding to offer education steeped with universal Jewish values and applicable culture. If our communities are given the opportunity to offer free education, this is an opportunity we cannot miss. We cannot make our families choose between free and private pay programs.

Not long ago I spoke with a friend who is an assistant rabbi at a synagogue with a thriving early childhood center. They were struggling to recruit educators and a new director. As I dug deep and asked tough questions, I learned that their ECC staff were not receiving benefits and his son’s teacher often came to ask the rabbis for tzedakah to make ends meet. I asked him, “As a rabbi do you receive health insurance?” “Does your synagogue make contributions to your retirement fund and continuing education?” as he answered “yes,” I saw the light go on for him. While our clergy care for our communities of today, our educators ensure our communities of tomorrow. How do we show them we care? We pay them salaries and benefits that make sense.

The Talmud teaches in Shabbat 119B, “The world is sustained by the pure vapors of the children of Beit Rabban.” Our tradition values our youngest learners, and we need to make sure we value their educators.

Emily Hausman

Director of Early Childhood Education

JCC Riverdale

Bronx, NY

The COVID-19 pandemic illuminated the importance and necessity of early learning and childcare to millions of people. The pandemic didn’t create it - it exposed it and has helped to bring our industry to the forefront of politician’s agenda as they now realize how our work directly impacts the economy, society, and child growth and development. 

As directors of ECE’s, many of us continue to struggle in finding qualified educators to work in our centers. Many educators have left the field because they are not earning a sustainable wage. State and federal subsidies have allowed some of us to raise salaries (slightly) and provide bonuses. This still does not address the pay disparity of educators that work in public schools versus those in early childhood centers, but it is at least a step in the right direction.

These subsidies are ending shortly. What do we now?

I have decided to use my voice and share my concerns with our government. Our elected officials are not experts in early learning and childcare, but WE ARE, and our industry is in dire risk if there isn’t a comprehensive, long-term investment in affordable, high-quality childcare.

I recently attended the National Association for the Education of the Young Child’s (NAEYC) Public Policy Forum in Washington, D.C. where I spent a day and a half learning about our very confusing governmental system (I think I was absent that year in high school!). Even though I still understand very little, it did not preclude me from joining our diverse team of 13 New Jersey early childhood educators in meetings with our two New Jersey State Senators and House Representative where we made our case on the importance of increasing educator compensation. This was an incredibly powerful experience. They actually listened and even took notes! I wish I could say that our meetings that day were all that we needed for change to happen, but it is not enough. If I can do it, YOU can do it! I urge you to reach out to your state and federal legislators and be heard. Together, we can make a difference.

Jill Cimafonte

Director of Early Childhood Education

Temple Emanu-El

Westfield, NJ