Emmett Johnson: DC’s broken promise to our youngest children

I never planned to be an early educator. In 2018, I was working as a cashier and knew I needed a change, so I applied to be an assistant teacher at a child care center. Once I started, everything clicked. It felt natural to work with children, and I found real joy in it. Kids gravitated toward me, parents noticed the impact, and I realized I was doing something meaningful: helping shape young lives, teaching foundational skills, and creating a safe, supportive environment. I went to work excited every day. What started as a job quickly became a career.

That’s why I committed to this field. I started working full time at Everstand Early Childhood Education Center in Ward 7 while taking classes every weeknight to earn my associate degree. Now I work at House of Ruth Kidspace and am in the process of earning my bachelor’s degree in early childhood education from the University of the District of Columbia. I’m set to graduate this May. Like many educators, I made this sacrifice because the District made a promise: If we advanced our credentials, we would be paid fairly through the Early Childhood Educator Pay Equity Fund (PEF). The Pay Equity Fund was designed to raise compensation — both pay and health benefits — so early educators could earn salaries on par with DC Public Schools’ teachers, based on their role and education level. Since 2023, more than 4,000 educators, myself included, have benefited from it.

Now, that promise is being broken.

I already have my associate degree, and I expected to receive a $11,265 raise once I completed my bachelor’s. If Mayor Muriel Bowser once again eliminates the Pay Equity Fund in her fiscal year 2027 budget proposal and the DC Council follows suit this time, that raise will disappear entirely. It’s not just my raise that’s at risk. This could mean tens of thousands of dollars in pay cuts for educators across the District. As of now, House of Ruth hasn’t implemented the lower salaries that correspond to the reduced Pay Equity Fund awards due to budget cuts in the current fiscal year. They’re dipping into their own reserves to keep our pay stable until further notice. But that’s not sustainable. We’ve worked hard for these advancements, sacrificing time with our families to pursue our degrees based on a promise from the District. These cuts send a clear message: Our work isn’t valued.

It’s forcing me to rethink my future. I’ve considered going into construction, electrical work or administrative roles — fields that offer more financial stability. Early education is what I love, but I also have a family to support.

I’m not just an educator — I’m also a parent who relies on the Child Care Subsidy Program to be able to afford high-quality early education for my child. Without my child care subsidy, I wouldn’t be able to work as an early educator — and in doing so, I know I’m enabling so many other parents to go to work, too.

My daughter currently attends Everstand, which accepts child care subsidies so that families like mine can afford its high-quality early learning program. She’s thriving. She comes home with new words, new skills and a love for learning. I get updates throughout the day, and I know she’s safe and cared for. That peace of mind is priceless — and, without the subsidy, it wouldn’t be possible.

Child care in DC is incredibly expensive, with infant care averaging around $26,000 a year. After its expansion in 2023, the subsidy program currently serves more than 7,200 children, making care accessible for families like mine.

But now, for the first time in over 20 years, DC is creating a waitlist for that program. Further cutbacks are likely unless the city comes forward with more funding.

I can’t imagine what families on that waitlist will go through, being unable to find affordable, high-quality care or having to settle for unreliable options. Even for families who currently have a subsidy, the future feels uncertain. Without full funding, some centers may have to limit subsidized seats or close altogether. That could force parents like me to lose access to care or have to pay out of pocket, which is something we simply can’t afford.

I’m already thinking about what we would have to cut from our budget: family outings, activities for my daughter, even basic quality-of-life expenses such as gymnastics and swimming classes. These aren’t luxuries; they’re part of giving a child a full, healthy upbringing. And still, it might not be enough.

Mayor Bowser and the council made a promise to early educators, and we’ve upheld our end, showing up every day to help raise the District’s children. But these cuts put all of that at risk. Eliminating the Pay Equity Fund would strip away hundreds of millions in wages and make it even harder for educators like me to support our own families while caring for others’ children. If we don’t value our teachers and they leave the field, what will families do? We are raising the next generation — teaching children manners, life skills and foundational knowledge. So what do we gain by refusing to pay educators fairly? 

At the same time, continuing to underfund the Child Care Subsidy Program will lead to harmful waitlists that lock families out of affordable child care. It doesn’t have to be this way. It’s time for the mayor and council to stop playing games and instead protect and expand funding for child care, ensuring that educators are paid fairly, families can afford care, and our children have the strong foundation they deserve.

Emmett Johnson is a Ward 7 resident and a member of the Under 3 DC coalition.

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