Survey: Child Care Programs Losing Money Each Day

To understand the depth of the ongoing child care crisis due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) has been surveying thousands of programs across states and settings. Current survey results show that child care providers are sacrificing to stay open and waiting to relief.

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NAEYC’s newest survey, completed between November 13–29, 2020, by more than 6,000 respondents working in child care centers and family child care homes shows that the crisis facing child care is as consistent and devastating today as it was in March and in July.

Survey responses show that nationally and statewide, program directors are resorting to desperate measures to stay open. They also are experiencing significant increases in operating costs.

Pennsylvania Statistics

  • 471 responses; 73% from child care centers and 27% from family child care homes.

  • 69% of respondents from child care center and family child care homes said they are currently losing money by remaining open, even as they are desperately trying to stay open for the children and families they serve.

  • 53% of respondents reported putting supplies or other items on their personal credit card or dipping into their personal savings accounts, including 76% of family child care homes.

  • 94% of respondents are paying additional costs for cleaning supplies; 74% are paying additional costs for PPE, and 66% are paying additional costs for staff/personnel, including 81% of child care centers.

  • 41% are confronting so much uncertainty that they are unable to say how much longer they will be able to stay open.

  • Of those who do know, 31% say they will have to close within three months, including 34% of family child care homes, if enrollment stays where it is and they don’t receive additional public support.

  • 48% of respondents said they know of multiple child care centers and/or family child care homes in their community that have closed permanently.

For access to the national analysis, and prior survey data and analyses from March, May, and July 2020:

NewsHeidi Winkler