The $39 billion investment to support early care and education programs provided a lifeline to providers and educators who were struggling just to survive. Like many states, Maine recognized the role low wages play in driving high turnover rates in the child care system and used some of these funds to increase compensation for early educators. Since 2021, the state’s salary supplement initiative has provided monthly stipends of $240-$540 to educators working in licensed home- or center-based care, based on education and experience, making it one of the nation’s leaders in its support of early educators.