Elevating Jewish early childhood education means elevating how we recruit and retain educators

Between 2006 and 2019, the number of bachelor’s degrees awarded in education dropped by 22% even as overall bachelor’s degrees increased by 29%, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. This decline has contributed to a critical shortage of qualified early childhood educators nationwide: By 2023, fewer than one-third of early childhood centers in the U.S. were fully staffed, a crisis worsened by the COVID-19 pandemic. Recruiting for Jewish early childhood centers is especially challenging because many educators earn wages just above the poverty line, making it difficult for them to afford living in the middle- to upper-middle-class neighborhoods where these centers are typically located. This shortage puts the quality and accessibility of Jewish early childhood education at risk, threatening a vital pipeline for long-term family engagement in Jewish life.

As a result, we are missing a crucial opportunity to support families seeking Jewish education for their youngest children. Research shows that early childhood is a critical period for family engagement and identity formation; positive experiences during this time strongly influence long-term Jewish involvement. Without access to high-quality Jewish early childhood education, our community risks losing connection with the next generation.

This crisis extends beyond the Jewish community. Across the U.S., early childhood education is facing a staffing emergency, leading to classroom closures, long wait-lists and increased family stress. For Jewish early childhood centers, these challenges are compounded by the dual need for educators skilled in child development and knowledgeable about Jewish traditions. This narrows an already limited candidate pool, making recruitment and retention even more difficult. The urgency to act is heightened by early childhood education’s critical role in children’s development and community continuity. Without swift, innovative solutions, the sustainability of Jewish early childhood education — and Jewish communal life — faces significant risk.

ElevatEd is a groundbreaking pilot initiative, now active in 12 communities nationwide, transforming recruitment by combining 21st-century technology, proven corporate hiring strategies and the power of community relationships within the Jewish world. The program is supported by visionary funders, including Jim Joseph Foundation, Crown Family Philanthropies and the Samuels Family Foundation, and implemented in partnership with JCC Association of North America, Jewish Federations of North America and the Union for Reform Judaism.

read the full piece in eJewish Philanthropy

Orna Siegel is the executive director of ElevatEd and a doctoral candidate in Jewish education at the Jewish Theological Seminary. She has worked in the field of Jewish education for over 20 years.