Improving Access to High-Quality Affordable Childcare in Minnesota

Preview:

The lack of affordable high-quality childcare is detrimental not only to parents, children, and families but also the entire economy. High – quality childcare provides a nurturing environment for children to develop and grow while also ensuring that parents participate in the labor force.

As this policy briefing shows, however, expanding funding is unlikely to address the childcare crisis because it does not deal with the root cause of the crisis — government regulation. Strict staff-child ratios and group limits, as well as stringent hiring requirements raise the cost of providing center-based care in Minnesota — costs which are then passed on to parents. To ensure high-quality affordable childcare, legislators should consider reforming regulations that raise costs for providers without improving quality

A full copy of the policy briefing can be viewed here.