Child care can cost as much as college. Why are so many centers in danger of closing?

*An early childhood education professional at Penfield Children’ Center. Photo by Jim Moy.*

This editorial by Vincent Lyles, Milwaukee Succeeds' executive director, was originally published in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. It's part of a special report by the Ideas Lab on child care in Wisconsin ahead of a special session of the legislature on September 20.

Why Early Childhood Education is Critical

*Milwaukee Succeeds’ Executive Director Vincent Lyles*

Early childhood education – often referred to as child care – is the system of care and education of young children. It’s far more than babysitting. Since the vast majority of brain development happens before 3, this is a critical time for kids. This care is all about helping them grow, learn and develop important skills during their early years, which are crucial for future success in school and life.

High-quality programs have so many benefits for our community. When it comes to the kids themselves, it reduces the need for special education, increases high school graduation rates, decreases the likelihood of addiction and arrest, and even leads to better physical health later in life. It is also a boon for the economy. When parents have access to affordable child care, they’re able to take on jobs outside the home, thereby strengthening the workforce. It also impacts racial and gender equity in the city, since 99% of early educators in our group centers are women – two-thirds of whom are Black or brown.

Lack of High-Quality, Afordable Care

Although it is critically important, the entire early childhood education sector is struggling. Let’s look at it in terms of access, quality and cost:

There are roughly 5,000 more young children in Milwaukee with parents in the workforce than there are child care slots.
Just 7% of Milwaukee’s providers meet the highest state standards for quality.
Currently, child care is more expensive than in-state tuition at any UW school. Imagine paying $16,000 for one infant, i.e. a quarter of Milwaukee’s mean household income. That’s the reality for most families.

Widespread staffing shortages play a big part in fueling these gaps. Right now, over half of Milwaukee’s providers say that they’re short-staffed, resulting in closed classrooms, reduced hours, longer waitlists and fewer children served.

One big cause of these staffing shortages is low wages. On average, centers can only afford to pay educators $13 per hour with no benefits. How is it so expensive while educators are paid so little? Operating a program is expensive, due in large part to the low child-to-staff ratios that are necessary to keep children safe, healthy, and supported. Even with parents paying more than they can afford, parent fees alone simply aren’t enough to cover the cost of quality care.

Parents Leaving the Workforce

When working parents don’t have access or the cost is out of reach, they’re forced to make hard choices, such as working fewer hours, changing jobs or dropping out of the workforce altogether. According to research by the University of Wisconsin-Madison, over 40% of Wisconsin moms report that they’ve cut back on hours or quit a job because of the cost of early childhood education.

Child Care Counts

Created during the pandemic to allocate federal relief funds, the state’s Child Care Counts program represents a significant public investment into early childhood education. In Milwaukee, over 1,600 providers have received more than $117 million in aid. The program is aimed at helping centers recruit and retain staff, improve program quality and reduce costs for families.

The federal funds will run out in January 2024 and, without state investment, the program will end. If this happens, providers across the state will have to raise rates for families and cut wages for staff, while others will be forced to close altogether. This will make it even harder for families to access quality, affordable early childhood education.

Milwaukee's ECE Coalition

What can people who support solutions for child care do to make their voices heard? Talk to the public policymakers who represent you, including state legislators and local leaders. Tell them why this matters to you. Make sure your employer understands how essential ECE is to your ability to work. Businesses must be a part of this solution. Those in Milwaukee can learn more at milwaukeesucceeds.org/ece, while those throughout the state can get in touch with the Raising Wisconsin Coalition.