Tennessee invests $7.2M into childcare employee recruitment and retention program

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — Gov. Bill Lee announced the state is adding $7.2 million to a program aimed at recruiting and retaining childcare workers through salary supplements and bonuses.

The Tennessee WAGE$ program, which launched as a pilot in Chattanooga in 2019, supplements salaries and provides bonuses to childcare employees who have stayed in their jobs and are pursuing a degree. Those in the industry can receive up to $7,800 per year through WAGE$, according to the program's website. Around 4,000 Tennessee educators have received about $24 million through the program.

"It helps to ensure we have a really highly-skilled and trained workforce to take care of our precious, young Tennessee learners," Rebecca Woods, Vice President of Government Relations for Tennesseans for Quality Ear