Childcare is often unaffordable, but some hope to change that

JACKSON, Tenn. — The cost of childcare is a growing concern among parents today. The financial burden that comes with finding and being able to afford childcare often pushes some into poverty.

A new report outlines a plan to make childcare more affordable and accessible for all families.

If you are a parent to young children, you’ve probably experienced this this first-hand. Childcare costs are skyrocketing.

According to recent data, the cost of childcare exceeds the costs of in-state tuition, and families are paying more for childcare than they are rent or their mortgage.

It’s hitting families hard across the U.S., but especially in Tennessee.

For many, it’s cheaper to send your kid to college than it is to send them to daycare.

“In Tennessee, the costs are 15% more than in-state college tuition,” said Natalie Foster, President of Economic Security Project.

“A minimum-wage worker in Tennessee would need to work full-time for 42 weeks from January to October just to pay for childcare for one infant,” Foster added.

Aside from the unaffordable costs, childcare is often too difficult to access.

A new report released by the Roosevelt Institute, Community Change and Economic Security Project outlines a vision for childcare programs in the U.S., and experts say it’s similar to the public school system.

• Read the full report here.

“There is a way we can build a public, universal, affordable — if not free — childcare system in the United States if we made a big investment in it,” Foster said. “We need to talk to legislators.”

Experts say the current market fails families and workers, and a new system would benefit both parents and child care providers.

Universal childcare is available in other states. In 2021, New Mexico dramatically expanded its childcare subsidy program, making roughly half of the state’s children eligible.

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