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| U.S. Child care is more expensive than 'any other advanced country in the world.' (Shutterstock photo) |
Two West Virginia University scholars, Melissa Sherfinski, an associate professor of early childhood and elementary education, and William Franko, an associate professor of political science, say the situation is dire. One solution would be to change the status of child care from an affordable luxury to a necessary public good with permanent funding similar to K-12 education.
A condensed version of their opinions is below.
Sherfinsk: “I am concerned about rural areas, including many places in West Virginia. These can be ‘child care deserts’ with only one child care center in commuting distance. If that center closes, there may be no viable options for local families. The effects of closures in rural communities may be particularly dire because families could be forced to move to places with child care opportunities.
"While young children are resilient, they need smooth transitions. The child care cliff has positioned millions of children in the U.S. to experience disruption with potentially negative effects on their behavior and learning.
“I also expect to see ripple effects for groups like college and university students with children. First-generation college students and students with high levels of financial need may lose their dreams of college matriculation due to rising child care costs and a lack of alternative child care spaces.
"And I foresee that in states like West Virginia where K-12 teachers receive relatively low pay, the increased cost of child care may cause teachers to leave the profession, especially combined with additional economic challenges such as expensive rent and home prices, and student loan repayments restarting.”
Franko: “The underlying problem with the child care industry is underfunding. Rather than treating child care as a public good, like we treat K-12 education, child care in the U.S. is more expensive than in any other advanced country in the world. This leaves many working families with difficult choices about whether to stay out of the workforce or to pay up to half of their income toward child care services.
"The solution is relatively straightforward. The industry needs a permanent source of public funding. Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA) and Rep. Bobby Scott (D-VA) introduced legislation in April — the Child Care for Working Families Act — that would lower child care costs, increase access to centers and support child care workers. . . . Republican members of Congress focused on cutting government spending are unlikely to support a plan that would substantially improve child care funding, although some party members do acknowledge the problem."
Sherfinsk: “I am concerned about rural areas, including many places in West Virginia. These can be ‘child care deserts’ with only one child care center in commuting distance. If that center closes, there may be no viable options for local families. The effects of closures in rural communities may be particularly dire because families could be forced to move to places with child care opportunities.
"While young children are resilient, they need smooth transitions. The child care cliff has positioned millions of children in the U.S. to experience disruption with potentially negative effects on their behavior and learning.
“I also expect to see ripple effects for groups like college and university students with children. First-generation college students and students with high levels of financial need may lose their dreams of college matriculation due to rising child care costs and a lack of alternative child care spaces.
"And I foresee that in states like West Virginia where K-12 teachers receive relatively low pay, the increased cost of child care may cause teachers to leave the profession, especially combined with additional economic challenges such as expensive rent and home prices, and student loan repayments restarting.”
Franko: “The underlying problem with the child care industry is underfunding. Rather than treating child care as a public good, like we treat K-12 education, child care in the U.S. is more expensive than in any other advanced country in the world. This leaves many working families with difficult choices about whether to stay out of the workforce or to pay up to half of their income toward child care services.
"The solution is relatively straightforward. The industry needs a permanent source of public funding. Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA) and Rep. Bobby Scott (D-VA) introduced legislation in April — the Child Care for Working Families Act — that would lower child care costs, increase access to centers and support child care workers. . . . Republican members of Congress focused on cutting government spending are unlikely to support a plan that would substantially improve child care funding, although some party members do acknowledge the problem."
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