Parents and the High Cost of Child Care: 2015 Report

Eleven million children younger than age five are in some form of child care in the United States. The "Parents and the High Cost of Child Care: 2015 Report" summarizes the cost of child care across the country, examines the importance of child care as a workforce support and as an early learning program, and explores the effect of high costs on families' child care options. This year's report continues to expose child care as one of the most significant expenses in a family budget, often exceeding the cost of housing, college tuition, transportation or food. The following appendices are included: (1) 2014 Average Annual Cost of Full-Time Child Care by State; (2) 2014 Ranking of Least-Affordable Child Care for Center-Based Infant Care; (3) 2014 Ranking of Least-Affordable Child Care for Center-Based Care for Four-Year-Old Child; (4) 2014 Ranking of Least-Affordable Child Care for Center-Based School-Aged Child Care; (5) Average Costs for Two Children in Child Care versus Median Housing Costs by State; (6) Average Annual Costs of Full-Time Child Care in a Center and Public College Tuition and Fees by State; (7) 2014 Ranking of Affordability of Center Care for Single-Parent Households; (8) 2014 Average Costs for Center-Based Care for an Infant and Two Children Compared to Varying Poverty Levels; (9) 2014 Average Costs for Center-Based Care for a Four-Year-Old Compared to Poverty Levels; (10) 2014 Average Costs for Family Child Care for an Infant and Two Children Compared to Varying Poverty Levels; (11) 2014 Average Costs for Family Child Care for a Four-Year-Old Compared to Varying Poverty Levels; and (12) Child Care Worker Income Compared to the Cost of Having Two Children in Center-Based Care. A list of resources for families and a glossary are also included. [For the 2014 report, see ED559901.]