In Philadelphia, early childhood education teachers make an average of $14.37 an hour on average. That pay doesn’t come close to matching the cost of living and the high cost of food, utilities, housing and insurance. Many early childhood educators are forced to sign up for food stamps and Medicaid. Others take jobs with better pay and benefits in fields outside education.

Providers in the city have more than 600 open positions, which, if filled, would get 2,800 children off waiting lists and into classrooms and their parents back to work.