David Demos
As parents feel a semblance of normalcy with schools in session and a seemingly buoyant economy, an impending “childcare cliff” is set to throw a wrench in the works. Without Congressional intervention, $24 billion for pandemic childcare relief is on the verge of depletion. This isn’t just about keeping childcare centers open; it’s about preventing a surge in costs for millions of parents
Details:
- Funding Origins: The $24 billion was a lifeline from President Biden’s 2021 American Rescue Plan. It buttressed childcare providers first hit by reduced enrollments and, later, by staffing woes.
- Dire Predictions: The Century Foundation has flagged a possible closure of 70,000 childcare programs, potentially affecting over 3 million children.
- Immediate Impact: Parents will likely feel the pinch of skyrocketing childcare costs before any closures. Surveys from 2022 and 2023 support this trend, highlighting anticipated fee hikes by providers.
Between the lines: While some reports from places like Utah and Idaho point to already escalating fees, precise closure numbers are hard to pin down, given the country’s patchy childcare system data. Yet, whether it’s closures or fee hikes, middle-class and working-class families are the ones bracing for the major hit.
Historical context: Even before this, childcare was costly. 2022 data revealed annual toddler care costs in some states surpassed $12,000. And as everything from labor to supplies rises in cost, childcare is outpacing general inflation.
What to watch: As the 2024 elections loom, this could become a political hot potato. An injection of $16 billion is the suggested immediate fix. But beyond the politics and temporary patches, there’s a fundamental issue: the U.S. needs a more sustainable childcare solution.
The big picture: The rising childcare costs come at a peculiar time: companies are staunchly advocating the end of working from home with strict return to office (RTO) policies, especially so-called “pronatalists”. This push and unaffordable childcare risks exacerbating America’s already declining birth rate. The message is clear: without a sustainable solution to childcare, we aren’t just risking the immediate livelihoods of families but the future of the nation itself.
