Every child deserves an equal opportunity for quality early care and education in their earliest years to ensure they are well prepared to learn, grow, and succeed. While the child care sector has been facing a workforce shortage impacting access to high-quality child care for families in recent years and particularly since the pandemic, we are hopeful the Governor’s proposed $55 million recruitment and retention effort will be included in final budget negotiations. Our 2025 interactive maps and corresponding fact sheets for the Start Strong PA campaign are now available and show data about the workforce, high-quality access, and quality. Fact sheets are available by county, school district, and legislative district.
Key data points include:
- The average annual salary of child care workers in 2023 was $29,480, which is over $39,000 less than the average annual salary of kindergarten teachers.
- Of the 177,710 eligible children under 5 years living in Pennsylvania, only 28% access the Child Care Works subsidized child care program. Of these 49,225 children, only 53% are enrolled in high-quality child care.
- Of Pennsylvania’s 104,470 eligible infants and toddlers, only 23% access the Child Care Works subsidized child care program. Of these 24,292 children, only 50% are enrolled in high-quality child care.
- Support the proposed investment of $55 million in a new and recurring Child Care Recruitment and Retention line item to grant licensed child care providers participating in the child care subsidy program an additional $1,000 per educator.
- To more fully address the child care staffing crisis and its impact on working families, businesses, and the economy, consider an investment above the proposed $55 million.
As part of the 2025-26 final state budget, Pennsylvania policymakers should:
- Support the proposed investment of $55 million in a new and recurring Child Care Recruitment and Retention line item to grant licensed child care providers participating in the child care subsidy program an additional $1,000 per educator.
- To more fully address the child care staffing crisis and its impact on working families, businesses, and the economy, consider an investment above the proposed $55 million.
Click here to access the fact sheets and online maps.