As our nation grapples with soaring childcare costs, the early childhood education (ECE) sector’s importance is more apparent than ever.
This sector is vital for empowering future generations and allowing women to remain in the workforce. Maryland is leading the charge in addressing both the affordability and quality of ECE through initiatives like Governor Wes Moore’s “From Cradle to Career” plan.
This ambitious effort aims to expand free pre-K for all children in need over the next decade, through the full implementation of Blueprint for Maryland’s Future. Enacted in 2021 and starting in 2023, this ambitious plan aims to boost education funding by $3.8 billion annually for the next 10 years.
The situation is further complicated by severe labor shortages in the early childhood education (ECE) sector. According to a 2023 Report by the Maryland State Department of Education, the state is contending with over 3,000 unfilled ECE positions and a high turnover rate, exacerbating the crisis.
To make a meaningful impact, Maryland must address the employment barriers restricting the ECE workforce. A significant barrier is the restriction that prevents DACA-eligible individuals from entering the ECE field. Removing these obstacles could help diversify the teaching staff, alleviate the labor shortages, and move Maryland closer to achieving Governor Moore’s goal of universal pre-K.
The stakes are high. According to the Maryland Department of Education, the state has lost 15% of its childcare providers in the last five years, making it even harder to deliver quality education. One significant barrier is Maryland’s requirement for a Social Security Number (SSN) to obtain licensure for childcare services. This requirement excludes many qualified individuals who could help fill the staffing gap, especially considering the ideal classroom ratio of 10:1 for children aged 3 to 4.
Maryland’s solution to the understaffing issue is clear: by expanding access to professional and occupational licensure, the state could welcome DACA and DACA-eligible individuals into the childcare sector.
Maryland has the potential to be one of the leading states in such promising legislation for the future of early childhood education. Examples of current leaders in this legislative space are California and Illinois; both states passed multiple pieces of legislation allowing people to use their Individual Taxpayer Identification Numbers (ITINs) instead of SSNs for licensure.
According to the Higher Ed Immigration Portal, a resource that tracks and provides information on licensing and immigration policies for higher education, Maryland’s professional and occupational licensure requirements are recognized as “accessible” for DACA recipients.
However, the state’s current requirements on such licensure require individuals to present SSNs, which acts as a barrier to some DACA-eligible individuals. Maryland only makes it possible for DACA-eligible individuals to provide ITINs for professional and occupational licensing in the healthcare sector. With Higher Ed Immigration Portal reporting over 15,000 DACA-eligible residents in Maryland, the state’s universal pre-k goals could be achieved at a faster rate by allowing DACA-eligible individuals to use ITINs to obtain professional and occupational licenses in all sectors.
Maryland stands to gain significantly if legislators choose to expand occupational and professional licensure. Imagine the impact of such a policy: not only would Maryland address the pressing staffing shortage, but by being inclusive of the DACA-eligible residents, Maryland would also diversify teaching staff who bring valuable cultural and linguistic diversity to early learning environments.
This solution would address the staffing shortage and improve the educational experience for the state’s diverse population of children. As the most diverse state on the East Coast, Maryland would greatly benefit from this inclusivity. In addition, Maryland could get closer to their goal of 30% of pre-k services being provided privately, relieving public schools of providing the full supply of pre-k services for the state.
Investing in early childhood education is investing in the future of every child in Maryland. Findings from the Maryland Equity Project indicate ECE has long-term impacts on children’s brain development and overall well-being, thus impacting them into adulthood.
Without adequate investment, the most vulnerable communities, including low- and middle-income families, face a lack of access to essential resources due to understaffing. This shortfall in support impacts their emotional and developmental well-being.
Moreover, expanding access to ECE has significant economic benefits. The Maryland State Department of Education reports that investing in ECE could create over 10,000 new jobs and contribute significantly to the state’s economy. Women, who make up the majority of the ECE workforce, would particularly benefit, with expanded opportunities leading to increased workforce participation and financial stability.
To truly establish itself as a leader in comprehensive and equitable early childhood education, Maryland needs to take decisive action. Expanding ECE employment is not just a boost to the economy and a support to immigrant communities—it’s a commitment to ensuring every child, regardless of their income, receives the quality education they deserve.
This investment will yield substantial benefits, strengthening Maryland’s economy, uplifting its immigrant communities, and securing a brighter future for the state’s young people.
Carisma De Anda
Ava Vazquez
ABOUT THE AUTHORS
Carisma De Anda and Ava Vasquez are current Policy and Legislation Fellows at the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), the largest and oldest Latino civil rights organization in the U.S. Both are undergraduate students at the University of California, Berkeley. Carisma is pursuing degrees in Political Science and Data Science, while Ava is studying Legal Studies and Psychology.
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