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

Editor's Note: This op-ed is part of a special report by the Ideas Lab on child care in Wisconsin ahead of a special session of the Legislature Sept 20.

Vincent Lyles, executive director of Milwaukee Succeeds, explains why early childhood education is so critical to families and businesses, but economic strains are forcing many out of business. Milwaukee Succeeds is powered by the Greater Milwaukee Foundation and teams up with partners across the city to improve education. It leads the MKE Early Childhood Education Coalition, which is working to help families – particularly Black and brown families – access high-quality, affordable care.

Most brain development happens before 3, making early childhood education critical

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.

Just 7% of Milwaukee providers meet highest standards for quality of 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.

Over 40% of moms have quit or cut back hours due to cost of child care

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 funding has kept child care center doors open

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 coalition working to inform public, make voices heard

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. In Milwaukee, find out more at (milwaukeesucceeds.org/ece). Across Wisconsin, find out more at , while those throughout the state can get in touch with the Raising Wisconsin Coalition.

About this special report: We invited experts, providers and parents to share perspectives as state lawmakers meet in a special session Sept. 20 to consider a plan by Gov. Tony Evers to provide $365 million for Child Care Counts, a pandemic-era program to keep early childhood education centers open. Evers and Democrats tried on multiple occasions to include $340 million in permanent funding for the program in the state budget was adopted last summer but Republican lawmakers included $15 million for other child care services instead.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Don't mistake high quality early childhood education for daycare