Overview

• Mayor Brandon Johnson announced the $7 million investment as a 'down payment' to increase pay for early childhood professionals in Chicago.
• The funding will provide 5–10% salary increases for more than 3,000 educators and a one-time 2% bonus for Head Start workers.
• The initiative aims to reduce turnover, narrow the pay gap between early childhood educators and K-12 teachers, and improve access to care for over 78,000 children currently without licensed providers.
• The allocation comes from the city’s corporate fund, typically reserved for basic services, and covers one fiscal year starting July 1, 2025.
• SEIU Healthcare Illinois, after years of advocacy, is collaborating with city officials to secure permanent funding for these pay increases in future budgets.