New Jersey Education Association

New Jersey's Answer to the Teacher Shortage Crisis

The New Jersey Education Association (NJEA) has been watching the same heartbreaking pattern unfold—talented teachers leaving the profession because they cannot afford child care. For an organization representing educators across the state, this was not just a benefits issue. It was an existential threat to public education.

The Client

The NJEA represents 200,000 public school employees across more than 500 districts statewide. The association serves a critical workforce that includes teachers, support professionals, and essential school staff.

The Opportunity

New Jersey was already dealing with a teacher shortage, and NJEA was watching good educators walk away from their careers. The math was sobering. With over 75% of their membership being women, child care costs were forcing impossible choices.

“The cost of high-quality, reliable child care is high, and many families have to make difficult choices when it comes to their child care options,” explains Associate Director of Member Benefits at NJEA Beth Schroeder-Buonsante. “We cannot underestimate the importance of supporting our employees and members with child care.”

The challenge was finding a solution that worked for everyone, from teachers to support staff in the state’s more than 500 school districts.

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KinderCare at Work On-Site Centers

Back-Up Care

Tuition Benefits

Priority Waitlist

Dedicated Space

Champ Camp

Champions Before- and After-School Care

The Solution

Over ten years ago, NJEA began their partnership with KinderCare Learning Companies ™ to offer a 10% tuition discount to all members. Employees with younger children receive the discount at any KinderCare® Learning Center, while parents with school-age children can use the benefit for Champions® before- and after-school programs. The choice came down to reach and reliability when KinderCare’s statewide network meant a teacher in Trenton could access the same quality care as one in Hoboken.

Many of our members enter the profession believing it can work well with their decision to start a family,” says Schroeder-Buonsante. “For us to maintain the best employees and best educators, we need to support them at home on this issue.
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The Results

The 10+ year partnership continues to deliver value. NJEA members have saved over $217,100 through the program, with an average of 258 children at KinderCare using their child care benefit annually. But the real measure of success? Members actually reach out to thank the association for the benefit.

More importantly, the program helps keep experienced educators in classrooms during ongoing shortages. For NJEA, that is not just a win for members. It is a win for every student in New Jersey.

The partnership has become a cornerstone of NJEA’s retention strategy, proving that sometimes the best way to support education is to support the educators themselves. When teachers can afford to stay in their profession, everyone benefits.

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