STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- New York City officials announced on Tuesday a tentative contract agreement that would increase salaries for early education teachers that work for community-based organizations (CBOs).

CBO teachers and elected officials have been calling for pay parity after a report released in April highlighted the pay disparity among early education teachers in CBOs and those who work at Department of Education (DOE) pre-K and 3-K sites, like public schools and pre-K centers.

The report -- released by the child advocacy organization Citizens’ Committee for Children of New York (CCC) -- found that early education teachers in CBOs made 60 percent less than teachers who work at DOE pre-K sites, despite having the same level of education. This pay disparity nearly led to a strike of CBO educators in May.

Under the tentative agreement, salaries for CBO teachers with a master’s degree or a bachelor’s degree will increase over the next three years to align with salaries of their DOE counterparts, according to a news release from the mayor’s office.

The city made the agreement with early childhood care providers District Council 1707 Local 205 and the Day Care Council of New York (DCCNY).

Under the agreement, a teacher with a master’s degree will earn $53,581 by Oct. 1, 2019; $62,295 by Oct. 1, 2020; and $68,652 by Oct. 1, 2021. This 2021 salary will be $20,784 more than the previous rate of $47,858.

For a teacher with a bachelor’s degree, the salary will be $48,372 by Oct. 1, 2019; $55,651 by Oct. 1, 2020; $61,070 by Oct. 1, 2021. This 2021 salary will be $17,436 more than the previous rate of $43,634.

According to the mayor’s news release, the contract extension will benefit 4,241 early childhood education employees with more than 10,000 students in their care.

“There are few things as valuable as early childhood education and our youngest New Yorkers deserve the very best,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio. “With this agreement, we’re ensuring whether you’re in one of our schools or teaching in a community-based organization, you get the same starting salary. That means our kids and parents can rest assured that they’ll always have our best teachers in the classroom, helping our future leaders develop the skills they need to succeed.”

The tentative agreement also includes additional compensation for non-certified teachers and support staff and healthcare cost reductions. It will cover the period through Sept. 30, 2022, and must be ratified by DC 1707 Local 205’s membership.

“Today’s labor agreement marks a momentous accomplishment in addressing these pay disparities, providing the CBO workforce with fairness and respect they have earned and providing children and families with stability they need form their early education programs,” said Jennifer March, CCC executive director.

RFP DEADLINE EXTENDED

Through these RFPs, CBOs propose early education and care contracted with the DOE for programs like Pre-K for All, 3-K for All, Head Start and EarlyLearn.

Changes were made last month to the Birth-to-Five RFP and the Head Start/Early Head Start RFP after the city faced criticism that the contracts would change program funding and services.

All five borough presidents, including Staten Island Borough President James Oddo, wrote a letter to the mayor that said the RFPs would perpetuate pay disparity, undermine instructional quality and reduce direct access to mental and physical health services. City Comptroller Scott Stringer said the RFPs lacked cost escalators and would penalize providers with low enrollment.

These recent changes to the RFPs will increase the amount of funding that operators receive regardless of their student enrollment, support indirect costs and cost increases over the contract term, and strengthen the partnership between the DOE and community-based providers, according to a press release from the mayor’s office.