County committee hears study showing early‑education workforce underpaid; partners push registry and benefits

Laurie Ann Sales, chair of the Montgomery County Council’s Health and Human Services Committee, convened a joint meeting with Education & Culture and Economic Development partners to review a new early care and education workforce and compensation study and to hear proposals to stabilize the county’s childcare system.

The study presented by Jennifer Arnaiz, senior administrator for early childhood services at the Department of Health and Human Services, found persistent turnover tied to low wages, limited benefits and unpredictable hours. Arnaiz said the research sample covered roughly 23% of the credentialed workforce and cited several headline figures: 2019 headcount about 10,972; the most recent 2024 figure reported in the packet (transcript text: “9007 72”); a median hourly wage of about $21; and that 88% of educators earn below the county’s self‑sufficiency standard. “Hearts don’t pay mortgages,” Arnaiz said, summarizing educators’ dilemma and urging compensation reforms and benefits access.

Why it matters: Council and partner speakers emphasized that workforce instability limits provider capacity and therefore family access even when physical space exists. Kimberly Rosnack, executive director of the Children’s Opportunity Alliance, said public polling the alliance commissioned (FM3) found 77% of registered voters rate retaining and attracting early childhood educators as extremely or very important — a public‑opinion signal speakers cited to justify pursuing stable funding.

Partners outlined a multi‑pronged approach. Sharon Friedman, director of Montgomery Moving Forward, described three priority recommendations being taken to the state scale: a Maryland early care and education workforce registry, a birth‑to‑5 career lattice that recognizes both credential and alternative pathways, and engagement with business and workforce boards to designate ECE as a priority industry. Chris Swanson, who will lead the coalition backbone, said a registry could cost roughly $700,000 to stand up and about $1.8 million a year to operate, though some existing infrastructure could be connected to reduce costs.

Local education and training partners described pipeline and scholarship work. Ginger Robinson, dean of Education and Social Sciences at Montgomery College, said pathway enrollment and scholarship utilization have risen after removing a $5,000 scholarship cap; Montgomery College reported pathway enrollment increased from roughly 120 to 209 students and scholarship utilization rose about 165% (FY24–FY26 data cited in slides). Michelle Owens, director of early childhood federal and special programs at Montgomery County Public Schools, described high‑school CTE and paraeducator pathways aligned with Montgomery College and university partners that aim to convert entry workers into credentialed educators.

Councilmembers pressed for specifics on measurement, timelines and county versus state authority. Sales asked why packet wages appeared near $14 in some places while presenters discussed target ranges that could reach the county self‑sufficiency level; Arnaiz replied that market and hourly pay patterns, reduced hours and enrollment volatility depress take‑home pay and that many staff remain below self‑sufficiency even working full time. Councilmember Will Giwando asked whether other household thresholds had been examined; presenters said the self‑sufficiency results were consistent across other household compositions.

On governance and timing, partners said several work groups are co‑led across county agencies and the coordinating entity (the Children’s Opportunity Alliance). Arnaiz said the county plans to elevate proposed revisions to the local subsidy regulations to the County Executive in July and anticipated fall public hearings and a vote on those regulatory changes; the registry and other statewide policy changes will require General Assembly action and sustained funding. Council members including Andrew Friedson and Don Luedtke urged clearer local leadership and one voice for statewide advocacy while acknowledging that many levers (licensure, COMAR, the state Blueprint and funding) sit with Maryland agencies.

Disagreements and risks highlighted at the session included how to balance safety‑driven regulations and cost burdens, whether county action can meaningfully change capacity without state support, and the risk that stricter or slower implementation could cause provider attrition. Presenters repeatedly flagged equity concerns, noting that low wages disproportionately affect Black and Brown women and that family childcare providers serve high‑need populations.

Next steps: presenters said the county partners will continue co‑leading work groups through the summer, aim to deliver the work‑group recommendations in June/July, present proposed subsidy regulation changes to the County Executive in July and seek fall hearings on regulatory changes. Participants emphasized continued coordination with state legislators and called for using longitudinal state data sources and a registry to better track outcomes.

The committee closed with the chair thanking partners and noting that more concrete steps and timelines are expected following the budget cycle.