DCAEYC and Under 3 DC Coalition Continue the Fight for Fair Pay at the Wilson Building

On Tuesday, October 21, the District of Columbia Association for the Education of Young Children (DCAEYC), alongside partners from the Under 3 DC Coalition, gathered at the Wilson Building to advocate for the full funding of the Pay Equity Fund.

From early in the morning, DCAEYC’s Interim Executive Director, Berna Artis, stood with early childhood educators, families, and advocates to urge DC leaders not to reduce salaries for the city’s early educators. “We have been here since 8:40 a.m. with our Under 3 DC partners, fighting for the Pay Equity Fund,” Berna said. “We should not cut the funds or the teachers’ salaries, this is their livelihood, and it is all about the children.”

During the Council session, members voted to advance both the Early Childhood Educator Pay Scales Amendment Act of 2025 and its emergency companion bill. While these measures make permanent improvements to the structure of the Pay Equity Fund, they also reduce the minimum salary requirements for early educators starting January 2026, unless Mayor Bowser restores full funding this fall.

Berna reflected on the moment: “I was moved by many Council members’ heartfelt comments about the importance of early childhood education and of fully funding this program. But I am disheartened that we had to move toward pay cuts and a new pay scale. The fight is not over. We will continue to push for full funding.”

Over the past several weeks, DCAEYC members and partners across the city have sent hundreds of emails, made calls, and met in person with Council offices to protect the Pay Equity Fund. Their advocacy helped ensure that educators’ voices were heard at every stage of this legislative process.

The DCAEYC remains committed to working with the Under 3 DC Coalition and city leaders to secure the resources needed to sustain fair, equitable pay for early childhood professionals and to ensure that every young child in DC has access to quality early education.

The fight for fair pay continues, and together, we will not stop until every educator is valued, respected, and supported.

Watch our video here.