Washington Post: More than one-third of child care providers are considering closing their businesses within the next year

For over a year and a half, the Civic Action team has warned that the American child care sector is collapsing, and the pandemic could accelerate its total downfall. Now, our worst fears have come true: 

More than one-third of child care providers are considering closing their businesses in the next year – and centers owned by people of color have been especially hard hit.

Let’s take a look at how we got here: For decades, trickle-downers have refused to recognize that affordable child care is a critical part of our infrastructure and integral to our economy. The truth is, our whole economy can only function if someone cares for children while parents work.

Despite this, child care workers earn next to nothing. Right now, the average caretaker makes only $12 an hour while doing draining work. Furthermore, child care workers’ earnings rank in the bottom 2% of all professions. As their wages stagnate and they are faced with the danger of contracting COVID-19 from unvaccinated children, caretakers are leaving their jobs in droves – leaving daycares severely understaffed.

At the same time, child care prices are soaring, putting an incredible burden on American families. The average family spends 13% of their income on child care for young children, and in some states a year’s worth of child care costs just as much as a year of university tuition. 

As child care becomes increasingly unaffordable, parents are staying at home to care for their children. The pandemic began almost two years ago, and nearly 1.6 million mothers of children under 17 still haven’t gone back to work. Just as our team predicted, this massive loss is stalling our economic recovery. It should be clear to everyone by now that the free market can’t solve America’s child care problem. 

The good news is, President Biden’s administration agrees that this child care system is unworkable. That’s why the American Rescue Plan approved $39 billion to help child care centers, but only 14 states have applications up and running. Even if this funding is successful and all states finally begin distributing it, it’s just a band-aid for a huge crisis. 

The fact is: We have no choice but to convince the federal government to finally pay for the labor of caretakers, who are a cornerstone of our country’s human infrastructure. President Biden and the Democrats have proposed to spend $450 billion on child care to provide free preschool for families, free child care for in-need families, and an extension of the Child Tax Credit for nearly every family.

We know where we stand on this issue, and we know President Biden agrees, but we need to know what you think about the child care crisis. We’re running a poll to find out what 10,000 of our top supporters think about President Biden’s caretaker proposal, so please tell us now:

Do you agree with President Biden’s plan to finally pay caretakers and help parents rejoin the workforce?

Thanks for helping us advocate for a fairer, more inclusive economy. 

Team Civic Action