Over the past two weeks, we have examined pay disparities and educational attainment in early childhood sectors by gender, race, and ethnicity. This week, we highlight a few promising child care systems nationwide. One notable system is the Department of Defense’s (DoD) child care system, earning the highest grade awarded in a report from Child Care Aware due to its excellent standards and quality.
Furthermore, examining different types of child care, including licensed and certified child care homes, reveals the diverse range of available care options catering to various family needs. Even with the numerous types of care availability, a sizable gap exists in the number of child care slots needed compared to what is available. A Bipartisan Policy Center report estimates a gap of over 2.6 million children. The nationwide awareness and urgency in addressing child care issues are evident in state-level efforts to reinforce the child care sector, emphasizing the importance of availability and quality of care for all children.
Ranking States
There are various criteria for judging the performance of a state’s child care system, including cost, quality, and availability see Table 1). Costs determine affordability, quality represents safety and child development, and availability addresses the existence and proximity of programs.
Table 1. States Ranked Best and Worst in Child Care: 2021
Source: Care.com
North Dakota’s child care system was ranked most affordable, Hawaii’s best quality, and Massachusetts’s most available. West Virginia’s system ranked last in cost and quality, while Alaska ranked last in availability.
The Changing Tide
While there has been a lot of talk about the upcoming end of federal funding for child care programs, it’s worth noting that some states are also utilizing state resources to provide extra funding to their child care systems. California has increased it’s investment in child care to $6.5 billion, up $2.9 billion from last year. A state constitutional amendment in New Mexico will generate an additional $236 million for early childhood education. In addition, New York committed to investing an additional $500 million to their child care workforce through the Workforce Retention Grant Program.
Figure 1. States Increased Child Care Budgets
Source: National Conference of State Legislatures
Who knows What the Future Holds
The child care industry is complex, with unique challenges for each component. There is no one-size-fits-all solution, and it will take a massive effort to fix most issues. However, with collaboration, increased funding, and better data collection and dissemination, we can begin to create a better system.
There are three days until the cliff. Will Congress pass a budget and if so, will there be child care provisions? If not, how will states respond? Only time will tell.
Jerry L. Pender is the Research Director specializing in childcare, affordable housing, and criminal justice reform.
