top of page

Is Your Childcare at Risk of Closing?

ReGina Harvey
Mississippi's WorkForce
Mississippi's WorkForce

The current economy has left families with young children struggling to afford child care.

Many families have chosen to leave the workforce and care for their children at home. In 2020, just after Covid, the women's labor force comprised 56.1 % of the US population. In 2024, it had only risen to  57.5%. 


In the last few years, Mississippi has experienced economic growth, the lowest unemployment rate in history, and a wide range of new jobs are now available due to the opening of the Nissan plant in Canton. Also, Cal Maine Foods in Jackson, with its headquarters in Ridgeland, employs over 1250 people and produces over a quarter of the nation's egg consumption.  Yancey Engineered Solutions will join the ranks and bring 250 new jobs to Mississippi. Yet, Mississippi's labor participation rate is the lowest in the United States at 53.9%.


Federal Programs
Federal Programs

Congress is currently evaluating federal funding of educational choice. They have the power to make changes to childcare provisions in programs directly related to childcare, such as Child Care Subsidies (CCDF) financed through the Child Care Development Block Grant (CCDBG), Child Care and Adult Food Program (CCAFP) financed through the United States Agricultural Division and the Child and Dependant Care Tax Credit (CDCTC) funded by the Internal Revenue Service. 


These programs provide financial assistance to low-income families, supplement food expenses at childcare centers, and support all parents by helping them keep more of what they earn to pay for child care. In Mississippi, only 36% of children currently participate in the CCDF. 84% of children do not qualify for financial assistance due to insufficient funding. 

Executive Order
Executive Order

President Trump recently signed an executive order expanding educational freedom and opportunity. "The order includes a provision in section 5 that states that within 90 days…the Secretary of Health and Human Services will give guidance to Congress regarding whether and how…states can use block grants, including the CCDBG, to expand educational choice and support families who choose educational alternatives to governmental entities, including private and faith-based options." 


Some may interpret the order to mean that they will continue appropriating funds to programs crucial to the workforce and childcare centers while others are worried they won’t. Some families choose public preschools because they are free, but this is not necessarily what they want for their children. This expansion would provide families with more choices. 

Private Schools
Private Schools

Expanding funding to private and faith-based options could surge their profit margins and allow them to reach more children. However, class size is one of the most desirable options for private schools. To keep this option, they would have to become more selective about who they let in. The selection process could lead to inequality of care. Students not of the school's chosen faith, race, or educational aptitude could prevent enrollment in a child's family's school of choice. 


For that matter, since private schools do not rely on federal funding, they are not subject to politics. Would opening up funding to these schools make them subject to politics? 

Preschool Programs
Preschool Programs

Preschool collaboratives in Mississippi require two or more partners, including at least one school district and at least one Head Start, a private childcare center, or a private or parochial school. The state gives the schools $2500 per child for full-time care. These programs are required to meet the highest level of quality. These programs are free to parents and are considered public preschools. 


Individuals or corporations can receive tax credits for donations up to $1,000,000.00 to support these collaborations.


Private preschools currently only receive support through the CCDF and CACFP. Not all private preschools participate or are eligible to participate in these programs. 

What Could Losing These Federal Programs Mean?
What Could Losing These Federal Programs Mean?

It is hoped that federal funds will be expanded to private preschools without the collaborative rule. Private schools wish to remain private and still have control over whether or not they participate in the quality support system and where they appropriate their funding within reason. When businesses solely rely on the government, they are at their mercy. 


Many preschools already have 25%—90% of their families participating in the CCDF and CACFP programs. Any decision to change, alter, or diminish support could severely impact these schools, leaving them forced to close, change enrollment availability, or raise prices so high that only the wealthy could afford them. Regulations on ratios would also play a huge factor in enrollment availability for children ages birth to three. 


I urge everyone to reach out to your local, state, and federal representatives to express your opinions on issues that impact your family. Your input is crucial, as the changes they make can either harm or benefit your loved ones. Make your voice heard.


Resources










17 views0 comments

Recent Posts

See All

Preschooler's Potty-Training Regression

Most children are truly not ready at two years of age to potty train. Yes, toddlers are physically capable of using the toilet, but they...

Comments


© 2017 by S.M.A.R.T Beginnings, LLC . Proudly created with Wix.com

logo-cleaning-logo-white.png
bottom of page