Why child care in Massachusetts costs so much – WBUR
By Max Larkin
More than half of American children go to child care at some point in their lives. It's an essential service for working parents. But it's also incredibly expensive.
American families spend more on child care than their counterparts in many other parts of the world. And the cost in Massachusetts is the highest among the 50 states, with infant care costing, on average, over $20,000 a year, according to data from the Economic Policy Institute. The average price for 4-year-olds is only slightly lower, at $15,000 a year.
“It's a strange catch-22,” said Anna Rogers, of Westwood, whose daughter is just finishing preschool. “Parents are paying literally a mortgage … but also, the teachers who are working there are getting paid like a fry cook."
Rogers spent 10 years working in child care centers. During that time, the most she ever earned was $18.97 an hour — or roughly $40,000 a year…
Legislation introduced on both the federal and state level would step up the public commitment to high-quality child care.
While a sweeping overhaul looks unlikely, advocates are optimistic about a state bill drafted this spring that would award grants to centers to raise teacher pay, add financial aid for students and increase teacher training. It would also ramp up subsidies to families earning up to 85% of the median income, with room to expand them further if the federal government provides more funding.