In Pennsylvania, we like to think of ourselves as progressive. We are, after all, the state that gave birth to the United States of America. We have beautiful mountains and valleys. We have big cities and small towns. We have an economy that is the envy of the world. So why is it that when it comes to childcare, we are failing so miserably?
The simple answer is that we do not value our childcare workers enough. They are some of the lowest-paid workers in the state, usually less than the local burger dipper,yet they are tasked with caring for our most precious resource: our children.
This lack of pay and respect has led to a shortage of childcare workers, which in turn has led to long waitlists for parents who need childcare. This is not just a problem in big cities like Pittsburgh or Philadelphia; it is a problem across the state. In fact, according to a report by the Pennsylvania Partnership for Children, there are only enough licensed childcare spaces in the state for 27% of infants and toddlers under the age of three.
This childcare crisis has real consequences for families. Parents are forced to miss work or worse put their careers on hold. They are forced to make choices no parent should ever have to make.
It is time for Pennsylvania to step up and do better for our children and our families. We can start by valuing our childcare workers more by paying them a living wage.
The Pennsylvania childcare crisis is real and it is impacting families across the state. If we want to fix this problem, we need to start by valuing our childcare workers more and investing in early childhood education. Only then will we be able to provide every child with the bright future they deserve.
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