US EditionMore Child Care Programs, Less Access: The Child Care Affordability Gap Widens
- On May 19, 2025, Child Care Aware of America published a report from Arlington, Virginia, outlining nationwide trends in the availability and cost of child care in 2024.
- The report shows child care center numbers increased by 1.6% and licensed family child care homes grew by 4.8%, led chiefly by California, Kansas, Massachusetts, and Virginia.
- Despite this supply growth reversing a long decline, the rising cost of child care remains a major barrier, with prices outpacing inflation and exceeding other household expenses.
- The report found child care prices rose 29% from 2020 to 2024 versus 22% inflation; center-based care for two children costs more than mortgages in 45 states plus DC, and infant care often exceeds in-state university tuition in 41 states.
- The findings suggest that increased and sustained federal and state investments are necessary to maintain supply growth and address affordability, especially in rural areas and for infant care, as existing funding falls short.
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Maine needs more affordable child care to secure its economic future
The BDN Opinion section operates independently and does not set news policies or contribute to reporting or editing articles elsewhere in the newspaper or on bangordailynews.com Keith Bisson is president of CEI, a nonprofit Community Development Financial Institution based in Brunswick working to build a more equitable economy by growing good jobs, livelihoods and small business ownership, while advancing a just transition to a climate-resilient…
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More Child Care Programs, Less Access: The Child Care Affordability Gap Widens
ARLINGTON, Va., May 19, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- While America's child care supply grew nationally, the price of that care continues to rise—placing affordable, high-quality care out of reach for many families. A new report released today by Child Care Aware®…
Waitlist open for childcare subsidies under Best Starts for Kids
The waitlist for the Best Starts for Kids Child Care Subsidy Program is open! Click here to fill out this 5-minute form to be considered for child care funding available later this year.Starting later this year, some families on the waitlist will be selected through a lottery to complete a full application and, if eligible, enroll in the program to receive a child care subsidy.While joining the wait list doesn’t guarantee you a spot in the subsi…
Affordable Childcare Remains a Barrier: Solutions in New Report – The Windy City Word
While America’s childcare supply grew nationally, the price of that care continues to rise—placing affordable, high-quality care out of reach for many families. A new report released by Child Care Aware® of America (CCAoA), Child Care in America: 2024 Price & Supply, shows that despite promising signs of increased supply, affordability remains a major barrier — and underscores the need for increased sustained federal and state investment. From 2…
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