WEEL, or Washington Educators in Early Learning (formerly known as Child Care Workforce Alliance of Washington (CCWA), is an associate membership program of the American Federation of Teachers and WEA. WEEL was formed to be a voice for the child care workforce in order to advocate for livable wages, benefits, and professional development opportunities. We want to make sure child care jobs are good jobs and that all families have access to high quality, affordable child care. We are child care teachers, directors, parents, and other allies who work together to make sure child care teachers get the respect they deserve.

Become a Member!

Membership is open to anyone who believes in the link between high-quality early childhood programs and the pay and working conditions of the staff who care for children. Members include early childhood teachers, providers, center directors, board members, researchers, trainers, parents, grandparents and other allies.

Find out more by clicking here.

What is a high-quality early childhood program?

High-quality early childhood programs prepare a young child for lifelong learning and participation in our community. A high-quality early childhood program features the following:

 

• High qualified and well compensated staff;
• Low staff turnover;
• Low teacher-to-child ratios and small class sizes;
• Standards and curriculum that are developmentally appropriate, with an emphasis on advancing language, cognition, social and emotional development and physical ability;
• Comprehensive social services and a nurturing environment;
• Periodic licensing and/or accreditation of centers; and
• Communication between teachers and parents.

What is the single most important factor of high quality programs?

To deliver such a high-quality early childhood education program, the single most important factor is the child care staff. The staff, however, is often the most overlooked. Too often, early childhood teachers and providers work for low wages, have little or no healthcare coverage, and very rarely have any kind of retirement plan. This creates a revolving door of staff which means children have multiple caregivers in their early years of life.

In the state of Washington, child care workers earn an average of $8.77 an hour. The estimated wage for one adult to live self-sufficiently in a household of one preschooler and one school-age child ranges from $12.54 an hour in Chelan County to $20.70 in King County (2001 data).

The lack of decent pay and benefits provokes thousands of qualified and experienced early childhood teachers to leave the field. We need to keep these talented and dedicated people in the profession.

WEEL is a professional organization that meets the CDA standards of the Council for Professional Recognition.

Welcome to the website of Washington Educators in Early Learning (formerly called Child Care Workforce Alliance of Washington), a project of the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) and the Center for the Childcare Workforce.

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