According to the Economic Policy Institute, the average annual cost of infant care in Georgia are more than $8,000 a year. Four-year olds, with the opening to pre-K, are slightly at more than $7,000. Those costs mean that infant care is about $1,000 more per year than average in-state tuition for a four year college. Georgia is one of 33 states where infant care is more expensive than college. Housing costs have skyrocketed but they are only about 20 percent more expensive than childcare.
For those with two children however, the costs are 45 percent more than the average rent. An average family would spend a quarter of their income just on childcare for two young kids. These costs often mean parents are in a tricky math balance between choosing their careers or saving money by staying at home with kids.
A new (and old) bill in the U.S. House is attempting to help take some pressure off these costs. U.S. Reps. Nikema Williams (D-GA 5), Pete Stauber (R- MN 8) and Judy Chu (D- CA 28) have announced the reintroduction of the Convening Operations Assistance for Childcare Heroes (COACH) Act. The bill aims to empower childcare providers by directing the Small Business Administration to create a resource guide for small childcare businesses, helping them find tools to open and sustain operations.
“Childcare is infrastructure and childcare professionals, many of whom are women of color, are essential workers. The COACH Act will deliver resources to hardworking childcare providers to help their businesses to thrive,” said Rep. Williams. “This will make childcare more accessible to working families. As a working mama, I know that childcare is a must for parents to get to work with the confidence that their children are receiving the best care possible. We must do everything possible to increase access to quality, affordable childcare for all families, no matter their ZIP Code, no matter their bank account.”
The COACH Act was previously passed by the U.S. House under the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) during the 117th Congress (we’re nearing the end of the 118th Congress) but was removed during conference committee with the U.S. Senate. The childcare industry was particularly hard hit by Covid (during the 117th Congress), losing approximately 373,000 workers over the spring of 2020. Even after the recovery, employment in childcare remained about 40,000 below pre-Covid levels.
“Accessible and affordable child care is the backbone of our nation’s workforce, enabling families with young children to maintain employment and advance their careers,” said Mindy Binderman, executive director of GEEARS. “Nearly half of Georgia parents with young children indicated that they or their partner had turned down job opportunities because of child care challenges, according to a recent GEEARS-commissioned poll. These challenges have far-reaching economic effects in communities across Georgia and the nation and underscore the urgent need for creative solutions such as the COACH Act.
