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Pennsylvania Partnerships for Children’s 2025 State of Early Care and Education report described the state’s early childhood education system as a “crisis” for families, educators, and the state’s economy.

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The report arrives amid the state’s ongoing budget impasse during which providers such as Pre-K Counts and Head Start haven’t been paid for months.

“Pennsylvania’s early care and education system is in crisis,” Pennsylvania Partnerships for Children wrote in the report. “Families can’t find or afford child care, educators are underpaid and leaving the field, and the state is losing billions in economic productivity.”

According to the report’s key statistics, a total of 72% of families with children under age 6 have all caregivers in the workforce. However, only 23% of eligible infants and toddlers are served by Child Care Works and 84,000 preschoolers lack access to high-quality, publicly-funded pre-k.

Infant care costs approximately $13,354 per year, which is nearly equal to college tuition, the report noted.

As a result of all this, many children in Pennsylvania are missing out on critical early learning that sets the foundation for lifelong success. When caregivers can’t access care, they are often forced to leave the workforce or reduce hours. 

Child care workers earn an average $15.15 per hour, which is lower than many entry-level jobs, and, as a result, providers are struggling to recruit and retain employees. Educators are leaving the profession for better-paying jobs in other industries.

There are currently more than 3,000 open positions statewide and Pennsylvania has lost 393 child care providers since 2019. Without adequate staffing, classrooms close in communities, leaving families desperate for care.

The report found that Pennsylvania loses $6.65 billion annually due to child care shortages.

For more information, read Pennsylvania Partnerships for Children’s full report.