A research team representing the Community-University Partnership (CUP), the Evaluation Capacity Network (ECN), and the Edmonton Council for Early Learning and Care (ECELC) has been working with the Association of Early Childhood Educators of Alberta (AECEA) on a community-engaged, qualitative research project. Together, they have been exploring how to achieve workforce stability for Alberta's early learning and child care sector (ELCC). The first stage of this project engaged Mount Royal University Bachelor of Early Education capstone students in a rapid literature review. The students discovered three overarching themes contributing to workforce stability in ELCC, which we call the three “pillars of stability”:
- fair compensation,
- supportive workplace conditions, and
- consistent education and training.
The current research team was formed during the summer and autumn of 2022 to build off the literature review findings. They narrowed in on the topic of fair compensation with the goal of proposing a values-based wage grid for ECEs in Alberta. This report outlines the research conducted for the first phase of the project. The next phase is to talk with ECEs about how our proposed wage grid will affect them and test the grid with facility owners and operators to track the path toward a smooth implementation.
This report is dedicated to the ECEs of Alberta. We hope that ECEs who read this document see their worth represented on our proposed grid.
In July and August 2023, the team conducted eight focus groups with 35 owner-operators to understand their perspectives on the recommended wage grid for ECEs. All regions, program types, and auspices were represented. While the full report is being compiled, a preliminary report has been published. Click the button below to learn more.