More than 70 local chambers of commerce and economic development agencies recently sent a letter to state lawmakers urging them to address the child care teacher shortage.
Current gaps in the child care system cost an estimated $6.65 billion annually in lost wages, productivity, and tax receipts, according to analysis from ReadyNation and the Pennsylvania Early Learning Investment Commission.
There were more than 3,000 open teacher positions in Pennsylvania in September, according to a survey of 1,140 child care providers that represented approximately 17 percent of licensed providers. If the positions had been filled, the providers could have served nearly 25,320 additional children.
The local chamber leaders asked lawmakers to invest directly in helping child care providers recruit and retain teachers. They said the investment would increase the availability of child care for the tens of thousands of families that need it to remain in the work force, and allow classrooms to remain open or reopen.
Gov. Josh Shapiro allocated $55 million in a new and recurring Child Care Recruitment and Retention funds in his 2025-2026 state budget proposal. Funding would be for licensed child care providers participating in the child care subsidy program and would provide them with an additional $1,000 each.