Investing in our Head Start educators is an investment in our students

Throughout our lives, we have both held many titles, including one we hold now: United States Representative. However, none will be as important as the title of Mom or Dad.

As parents-turned-lawmakers, we understand firsthand the important role that adequate child care plays in the success of a family, and, in turn, the success of our communities. Unfortunately, states across the country are facing a serious child care workforce shortage. And that crisis has taken a major toll on Americans, resulting in $122 billion in lost earnings, productivity, and revenue per year, and has forced as many as 100,000 employees a month to take time off of work when child care falls through. While these numbers are staggering, rural and underserved areas struggle even more so with access to child care than their urban or higher-income counterparts.

Because of this, Head Start and Early Head Start programs have become more and more crucial to our communities. With 207 Head Start and Early Head Start Centers in New Jersey, about 14,800 children rely on Head Start or Early Head Start in the Garden State alone. The importance of these programs cannot be understated. From immunizations to parental support, the benefits that Head Start provides to our communities go far beyond education.

Yet these programs are not immune to the workforce challenges facing the rest of our country. The National Head Start Association recently reported that 14% of their classrooms are currently closed, mostly due to staff vacancies.

While low wages have contributed to staffing shortages, a considerable obstacle remains the requirement of a Child Development Associate, or CDA, credential.

Often times, the CDA program is completed after finding employment in the early childhood education industry. However, Early Head Start programs require all teachers in the classroom to be CDA credentialed. While this requirement was initially implemented to ensure high-quality teachers in the classroom, it has become a barrier for future educators who seek work in Early Head Start programs.

That’s why we have introduced the bipartisan HEADWAY Act (Head Start Education and Development Workforce Advancement and Yield Act) to elevate this barrier and allow teachers to be in the classroom while simultaneously earning their CDA credentials.

Currently, Early Head Start programs must have at least two teachers in a classroom, both having earned their necessary qualifications. Changes made by the HEADWAY Act would allow one teacher with the proper certifications to be paired with another who is in the process of earning a CDA. It would also create a mentorship program, ensuring the party undergoing their certification completes their program. This small change would greatly expand the pool of applicants from which programs hire, ultimately allowing them to expand the size of their classrooms and the families they serve.

As lawmakers, we saw this as an opportunity to support not only our Head Start and Early Head Start programs and students but our future educators, too. These teachers would be able to work towards their CDA credentials and enter into a mentorship program with experienced educational professionals all while earning a paycheck.

Since its inception in 1965, Head Start and Early Head Start programs have seen incredible success. With alumni like former Suns player Shaquille O’Neal, who attended Head Start in Newark, these programs have proven to provide a strong foundation for millions of Americans. That could not be done without the inspiring professionals who drive the program, from teachers to support staff. And when we invest in them, we are investing in our students, our schools and the future of America.

Rep. Mikie Sherrill, a Democrat, represents New Jersey's 11th District and Rep. Juan Ciscomani, a Republican, represents Arizona's 6th District.

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Head Start educators need investment to better educate our students