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The Current State of NYS Child Care

Childcare prices across New York State have skyrocketed in recent years, leaving many families struggling to keep up with rising costs. The expiration of federal pandemic relief funds, which had temporarily stabilized the childcare industry, has led to significant tuition increases and staff shortages. As a result, many childcare workers face low wages, with some even living below the poverty line. While Governor Kathy Hochul has committed funding to address the crisis, the future of affordable childcare in the state remains uncertain. This blog explores the reasons behind the price hikes and what steps are being taken to support the industry moving forward.





NYS Child Care Prices Rising: Tuition Spikes Across NYS

It’s no secret that over the past few years, childcare prices have surged not only in Western New York but across all of New York State. Many families are left wondering why rates have increased so rapidly and what has caused this price spike. The root of the issue can be traced back to President Biden’s pandemic relief, which injected billions of dollars into the childcare industry. More than 15,000 childcare providers utilized this funding to cover rent, labor, and secure necessary resources to provide proper care to over 676,000 children.

However, by last September, that federal funding had run out, leading to tuition rate increases as childcare centers struggled to continue paying for essentials like rent and labor. Over the past year, 44% of New York childcare centers have raised tuition, and a third have lost staff due to the financial challenges they now face. Additionally, many New York childcare workers have experienced pay cuts. The state budget also provided a smaller wage boost than the previous year, exacerbating the problem. As a result, 12% of New York childcare workers now report living below the federal poverty line, with an average salary of $32,900 per year—making them some of the lowest-paid workers in the state.





What’s Next for NYS Childcare?

Between 2019 and 2023, the childcare industry has shrunk by 32%, due to factors such as stagnant wages, declining enrollment, and center closures. Recently, the industry has been losing staff to other fields that offer better pay, as employees prioritize higher take-home pay over their relationships with children, coworkers, and the passion they have for their work. This shift has the potential to lead to even more closures. Although the worst-case scenarios have not yet materialized a year after the federal funding ended, employee retention remains a significant challenge due to the low wages.


In 2022, Governor Kathy Hochul committed $7 billion to childcare over her four-year tenure as New York Governor, a much-welcomed move by the childcare community. In 2023, Governor Hochul and the state legislature agreed to allocate $500 million in discretionary federal pandemic relief funds to provide bonuses of up to $3,000 for 110,000 New York State childcare workers. According to the Governor’s office, more than 80,000 childcare workers received a combined total of $5,000 in bonuses over the past two years, with the goal of strengthening the workforce. 


Advocates are calling for the state to invest $2 billion of its own funds into a Child Care Compensation Fund in this year’s state budget to support the workforce further. Although a Cornell analysis found that it would cost nearly $800 million to raise the minimum wage for childcare workers to $23.55 (the average entry-level salary of preschool and kindergarten teachers in New York), Governor Hochul has been reluctant to commit new state dollars. Instead, she aims to find "recycled" money to fund further investment in the childcare industry.


The rising costs of childcare in New York State have put both families and providers in a difficult position, with tuition increases, staff shortages, and financial instability affecting the entire industry. While state initiatives, like Governor Hochul's funding commitments, have provided some relief, the long-term sustainability of the childcare sector remains uncertain. Without substantial new investments and wage improvements, the workforce will continue to struggle, and families may find quality care increasingly out of reach. Addressing these challenges will require creative solutions and a stronger commitment from state leaders. As advocates push for greater support, the future of childcare in New York hangs in the balance.





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