Child Care Aware® of America Survey
Shows a 3.7% Bump in Average Child Care Prices
ARLINGTON, Va., May 15, 2024
/PRNewswire/ -- 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:
- Between 2022 and 2023, the number of licensed child care
centers in America increased by 1.3% from 91,582 to 92,786. But
there was a decrease in the number of family child care (FCC) homes
– following a downward trend of recent years. During the one-year
period, 1% fewer FCC homes were open – from 94,955 to 94,227.
- In 45 states plus the District of
Columbia, the average annual price of child care for two
children in a center exceeded annual mortgage payments from 1% to
64%.
- In all 50 states plus the District of Columbia, the
price of center-based care for two children exceeded average annual
rent payments by 25% to over 100%.
- In 39 states plus the District of Columbia, the average
annual price of child care for an infant in a center exceeded
annual, in-state university tuition by 1% to over 100%.
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/
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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SOURCE Child Care Aware of America