Investing in Educators Pays Off: A New Analysis of DC’s Early Childhood Educator Pay Equity Fund (PEF)

Investing in Educators Pays Off: A New Analysis of DC’s Early Childhood Educator Pay Equity Fund (PEF)

Published: Apr 21, 2026
Publisher: Mathematica

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Associated Project

Washington, DC Early Childhood Educator Pay Equity Fund Impact and Cost Effectiveness Study

Time frame: 2022 – 2026

Prepared for:

Bezos Family Foundation

Esther A. & Joseph Klingenstein Fund

DC Action

Early Care and Education Funders Collaborative

Washington Area Women's Foundation

Early Childhood Funders Collaborative

Clients

 Washington Area Women’s Foundation logo with a lime-green abstract emblem on the left and gray text reading “WASHINGTON AREA women’s FOUNDATION” on the right. DC Action Logo

Authors

Under 3 DC

This brief shares findings from a benefit-cost analysis to determine the economic value of the PEF, the nation’s first dedicated public funding stream to address pay disparities between child care and early education educators and public school teachers. Economic returns from the program’s initial temporary design are compared to those from its intended longer-term payment model. For a more detailed presentation of the findings, please see the study’s full benefit-cost analysis report.

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