Pennsylvania’s Child Care System: Access, Affordability, and Quality
Fewer Child Care Providers achieving high-quality
1,860
120
106
1,842
1,840
1,840
97
100
1,820
81
79
80
1,800
1,792
1,780
60
1,754
1,760
40
1,740
20
1,720
1,700
0
Jun-21
Dec-21
Jun-22
Dec-22
Total
New
providers reaching high-quality. 48 Unfortunately, the monetary incentives are not enough for the work that goes into achieving and maintaining quality, which is why we are seeing a decline in the number of new programs achieving high-quality. Increasing high-quality providers is the best way to ensure children receive the biggest early education investment in their future. While more high-quality providers are available today, unfortunately, only 46% of all child care capacity in the state currently meets high-quality standards, and only 35% of child care providers serving children under 5 in subsidized child care are high-quality. 49 That means less than half of
Pennsylvania’s children receive high-quality care and education before they enter school. Further, access to high-quality programs highlights more disparities within Pennsylvania’s early care and education system. Based on state data provided by OCDEL, in March 2023, 1 in 4 income-eligible infants, toddlers, and preschoolers who are Black, Indigenous, and children of color participated in Child Care Works, with only 40% enrolled in a high-quality child care program. Of the 12% of income-eligible non-Hispanic white infants, toddlers, and preschoolers participating in Child Care Works, 51% were enrolled in a high- quality child care program. 50
August 2023
18
Made with FlippingBook - Online magazine maker