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New Findings: Child Care Prices Continue to Rise as Supply Remains Stagnant
Child Care Aware® of America Survey Shows a 3.7% Bump in Average Child Care Prices
Child Care Aware® of America Survey Shows a 3.7% Bump in Average Child Care Prices
Media Contact:
Meg Biallas
news@usa.childcareaware.org
202.491.8025
ARLINGTON, VA, May 15, 2024 — America’s child care supply remains flat, while child care prices continue to increase, according to a new report released today by Child Care Aware® of America (CCAoA) that highlights the burden families face accessing quality and affordable child care to participate in the workforce.
While the number of child care centers rebounded to pre-pandemic levels in 2022, the supply did not continue to grow in 2023, according to the report, Child Care at a Standstill, which incorporates annual survey data. Child care supply has long been insufficient and the pandemic exacerbated that challenge.
In addition, the national average price for child care rose 3.7% to $11,582 from 2022 to 2023 – a price that exceeds many family household expenses like rent. Child care is so expensive that it takes 10% of a married couple with children’s median household income or 32% of a single parent with children’s median household income to afford a year of child care at the average national price.
“America’s child care sector is at a standstill but it doesn’t have to be. Real progress is possible. We can make changes to grow the supply of child care and save families money – just look at successful pandemic-era investments in child care,” said Susan Gale Perry, Chief Executive Officer of CCAoA. “We must challenge the broken business model of our current child care system and move forward to prioritize sustainable state and federal funding increases and policy changes in support of improving quality, accessibility and affordability while fortifying the workforce.”
CCAoA’s Child Care at a Standstill report also found:
CCAoA supports policy changes that include investing in child care and building supply through strategies such as grants to providers, support for workforce compensation, and improvements to payment practices in the child care subsidy system.
The full 2023 Child Care at a Standstill report can be found on the CCAoA website: https://www.childcareaware.org/thechildcarestandstill/
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Child Care Aware® of America (CCAoA) is the country’s leading voice for child care, championing equitable access to affordable, high-quality care.
CCAoA engages with partners at the local, state and federal levels, including the United States Military and the Department of Defense, to make child care programs, policies and funding work better for children, families, child care providers and communities.
CCAoA works in all 50 states and the District of Columbia to build the supply of healthy, nurturing and stable child care that helps families get to work, supports children’s development and learning and keeps our economy growing. CCAoA also delivers innovative, results-based services for families and child care providers; produces research; engages with the media, public and policymakers; and advances policies and mobilizes action that promotes understanding of and increased investment in a high-quality child care system. To learn more, visit our website. Follow CCAoA on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram.
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