$4.5M In SMC Sales Tax Money Earmarked For Early Childhood Education

REDWOOD CITY, CA — In an effort to tackle a severe shortage of early childhood educators, San Mateo County will invest up to $4.5 million over the next three years to support individuals entering the field and help current educators advance their credentials.

Funded by the local Measure K half-cent sales tax, the initiative will cover tuition, textbooks, internships, and other educational expenses for aspiring and veteran early-childhood educators.

The goal is to fill teaching and assistant teaching positions across the county, from Daly City to Pescadero, to help alleviate the region’s childcare shortage.

“This is a win for families and a win for individuals who want to become early-childhood educators,” said David Canepa, president of the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors. “When quality, affordable child care is hard to find, it’s hard on families and also hard on businesses that need to recruit and retain qualified workers.”

According to a 2022 San Mateo County Childcare Needs Assessment, nearly 3,000 additional early childhood educators are needed to meet demand, leaving a shortage of over 17,000 childcare spaces.

A 2024 study by the Commission on the Status of Women further underscored the crisis through interviews and focus groups with families and providers.

By investing in workforce development, the County aims to expand access to high-quality early education programs, benefiting both working families and local businesses.