Report highlights workplace priorities and challenges affecting educator retention in Orleans Parish
NEW ORLEANS (July 21, 2026) — Agenda for Children and Tulane University’s Early Childhood Policy Research Lab released a new research brief today examining the workplace experiences of early childhood educators in Orleans Parish and the factors they say matter most in deciding whether to stay in the profession.
In the research brief, What Matters to Early Childhood Educators in the Workplace?, educators overwhelmingly said working with children is the most rewarding part of their jobs. At the same time, they described workplace challenges that include low compensation, staffing shortages, limited paid time off, insufficient support for managing challenging child behaviors and a lack of appreciation for the profession.
“Early childhood educators are at the heart of high-quality early learning, and their experiences matter,” said Agenda for Children CEO Jen Roberts. “This research helps us better understand what educators need to thrive and provides valuable information for policymakers, providers, and community leaders working to strengthen New Orleans’ early childhood system.”
“This research makes it clear: Sufficient, sustainable funding is essential to pay early childhood teachers what they deserve. Without that investment, early childhood education will remain one of the lowest-paid professions in our economy, despite the critical role these educators play in preparing children for success and supporting a strong workforce.”
The research brief was released by the New Orleans Collaborative for Early Childhood Research (CECR), a partnership between Tulane University’s Early Childhood Policy Research Lab, Agenda for Children, and New Orleans Public Schools. The research was authored by Alica Gerry, Megan O’Connor, and Lindsay Weixler.
Based on a survey of 384 educators and focus groups with 32 educators working in licensed Type III early learning centers across Orleans Parish, the research provides new insight into the workplace experiences of the educators who serve the city’s youngest children.
The brief identifies four key factors that shape educators’ workplace experiences:
- Limited paid time off and inflexible schedules affect educators’ health, well-being, family life, and financial stability.
- Educators feel undercompensated relative to their workplace responsibilities.
- Center leadership plays an important role in creating supportive workplace environments through strong relationships and workplace policies.
- Educators want relevant professional development and coaching that builds classroom management skills and supports career growth.
- The report also underscores the importance of a stable early childhood workforce. Researchers note that high turnover disrupts the consistent relationships young children need for healthy development while increasing stress for the educators who remain. The findings suggest that local workplace improvements, coupled with broader investments in educator compensation and benefits, could help strengthen workforce stability.
The research is part of CECR’s ongoing work to evaluate early childhood programs and policies in New Orleans and generate evidence that informs local decision-making.
As a founding CECR partner, Agenda for Children helps connect research, public investment, and community partnerships to strengthen early childhood education across Southeast Louisiana. This work reflects the organization’s broader mission of helping children thrive by strengthening and expanding access to high-quality early education and building a system that delivers better outcomes for children, families, and communities. For more information about CECR’s research, go to CECR’s Publications page.
The study was funded in partnership with the Louisiana Policy Institute for Children’s Early Educator Investment Collaborative initiative.