Project Overview

MDRC evaluated the Colorado Child Care Assistance Program (CCCAP) Teacher Wage Increase Pilot (Pilot), an effort aiming to bring teacher pay closer to a livable wage.

This evaluation focused on Step 1, Step 2, and Step 5 of the Steps to Building Evidence, using mixed methods and a randomized controlled trial to examine outcomes such as teacher retention and economic well-being. The study used data from multiple systems through the Linked Information Network of Colorado (LINC). Other data sources include baseline and follow-up surveys with teachers and directors, interviews with implementation partners, and cost workbooks.

Findings suggest that continued investment in wage increases is warranted. The final report was shared with CDEC in summer 2025 and is expected to be publicly released in late 2025.

Project Partner

The Colorado Lab partnered with MDRC to evaluate this Pilot. The evaluation is also being funded by the Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation, Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Project Resources

1. CCCAP Teacher Wage Increase Pilot Year 1 Evaluation One-Pager

Project Overview

As part of Step 1 of the Steps to Building Evidence, NORC provided a descriptive analysis of verified workers and actual earnings using CDEC and Colorado Department of Labor and Employment and CDEC data through LINC. They estimated current salaries for key center-and school-based ECE job roles that are now the best available evidence for a large portion of the ECE workforce. This is the first step in how much more Colorado needs to pay to keep essential ECE professionals.

Results were shared with CDEC and the ECLC Compensation and Benefits Working Group in spring 2025 and are expected to be publicly released in late 2025. Next, the Colorado Lab will continue this work by estimating salaries for key roles not possible in the LINC data, including family child care home providers, using Stabilization Grant and CDEC’s Income and Benefits survey data.

Project Partner

The Colorado Lab partnered with NORC to conduct this analysis. NORC combines rigorous research to generate evidence and supports implementation of tested methods in the field. Their expert researchers have experience in data analytics and knowledge in early childhood programs and education pathways.

Project Resources

1. Colorado Early Care and Education Workforce Compensation Patterns

Project Overview

As part of Step 1 in the Steps to Building Evidence, independent consultant Dr. Lauren Jones performed a literature review on how to calculate the cost of staff turnover for ECE providers, including MDRC’s approach to calculating turnover costs for the CCCAP Teacher Wage Increase Pilot. Dr. Jones gave recommendations on the best ways to collect turnover cost data and estimate these costs in Colorado. This work can guide how to estimate the money saved if turnover is reduced. 

Results were shared with CDEC in June 2025. This work will help the Colorado Lab perform a feasibility analysis that will determine the best method to use in Colorado and how much work is needed to calculate the real cost of ECE teacher turnover. If possible, the Colorado Lab will also use available data to make progress on cost of turnover estimates.

Project Partner

The Colorado Lab partnered with independent consultant Dr. Lauren Jones to conduct this analysis. Through the Colorado Lab’s Early Childhood Stimulus Evaluation Hub, Dr. Jones previously supported CDEC with an analysis of the economic benefits of child care and the costs for providers to get licensed and advance quality levels.

Project Overview

As part of Step 1 in the Steps to Building Evidence, the Colorado Lab will use quantitative methods to estimate the earnings gap between current baseline earnings and salary levels needed to retain ECE professionals. This includes: 

• Calculating market-based target salary ranges and the minimum salary needed to retain for ECE professionals using actual longitudinal LINC data.  
• Analyzing survey data from Stabilization grants where providers stated the salary they would need to offer key ECE staff in order to retain them. 
• Comparing current earnings to the market-based salary ranges and provider-reported target salaries to estimate how much more pay is needed to close the gap.

Findings will be shared with CDEC in winter 2026.

Project Partner

The Hub is leveraging expertise from internal economists on the Colorado Lab team for this analysis. This team, led by Dr. Kristin Klopfenstein and Ernest Boffy-Ramirez, has led broader workforce development projects within the Colorado Lab, including analysis of wages and earnings.

Project Overview

As part of Step 1 in the Steps to Building Evidence, the Colorado Lab will figure out how many early childhood education (ECE) workers don’t get health insurance from their job or another source. This will help show how much support is needed to fill that gap. The work includes:

• Analyzing Professional Development Information System Income and Benefits Survey data to identify the percentage of staff who self-report that they do not have access to health insurance either from their employer or an alternative source.
• Analyze Stabilization Grant data to calculate the percentage of licensed centers and family child care home providers that do not offer or have access to health insurance.
• Compiling findings across the two data sources to estimate how many ECE workers don’t have insurance, based on provider type and job role where possible.

Findings will be shared with CDEC in spring 2026.

Project Partner

The Hub is leveraging an internal team, led by Dr. Whitney LeBoeuf, to conduct this analysis. Dr. LeBoeuf leads the Hub and has over 20 years of experience analyzing secondary and administrative data in the early childhood field.