Working families deserve a childcare system that works
Rep. Jacklyn Rusnock December 9, 2025 | 2:09 PM
Pennsylvania’s childcare system is in crisis. This crisis is hurting parents, educators, children, and our economy. And until we take bold action, the strain on working families will only deepen.
Families across our commonwealth are getting squeezed from every direction. Right now, infant childcare in Berks County costs an average of $13,068 per year, nearly equal to in-state college tuition. For many families, childcare is their single biggest household expense after housing. That is simply not sustainable for parents who are already stretched thin by rising costs, unpredictable schedules, and workplaces that depend on reliable care.
I recently visited White House Daycare in Reading, a high-quality provider serving families across the community, to hear firsthand the pressures facing both parents and educators. What I heard was troubling, but unfortunately, not surprising.
The director shared that while staff truly love the work, many ultimately leave because “it’s not a viable career” due to low sector wages. Early learning and childcare teachers are certified, degreed professionals, yet they make a fraction of what they could teaching at a local public school district.
Providers want to raise wages, but they can’t because families are already stretched to their limit. And when early childhood educators can earn more in retail or fast food, it becomes nearly impossible for programs to retain staff, keep classrooms open, or expand services to meet the needs of local families.
This staffing shortage has real consequences. Parents cannot work if there is no childcare. Yet across Pennsylvania, classrooms are closing not because of a lack of demand, but because there simply aren’t enough qualified staff to keep them open.
During my visit, the center shared a handwritten note from a parent that said it plainly: “Without childcare, I would not be able to work.” That is the reality for thousands of families in Berks County and across our commonwealth.
I also heard stories that show just how life-changing affordable childcare can be. One provider told me about a mother who had fled domestic violence and was staying in a homeless shelter when she finally secured a slot through Child Care Works, Pennsylvania’s subsidized childcare program for low-income families. That support allowed her to find stability, secure a job, and rebuild her life.
Another parent described the tremendous growth her daughter experienced, saying, “Her intelligence has expanded in ways I never imagined.”
These are not isolated stories. They show what is possible when we invest in children early and support families through moments of crisis and transition.
But our current system is full of barriers that hold families back. One example is the so-called “benefits cliff.” If you earn even one dollar over the income threshold for Child Care Works, you lose all assistance. That means many working parents face a painful and unfair choice between turning down a raise or losing the childcare that keeps them employed. A system that punishes work is a system in need of reform.
I know this struggle personally. Before I became a teacher and later a state representative, I spent 25 years as a dental hygienist. I know how hard it is to balance work, raise a family, and find care you trust. And I know how disruptive it is for both parents and employers when that care becomes unavailable.
The childcare crisis doesn’t just impact families, but our economy too. Pennsylvania loses an estimated $6.65 billion every year due to childcare shortages, including lost worker productivity, reduced tax revenue, and the ripple effects on local businesses that depend on a stable workforce. Employers across industries, from health care to manufacturing to small businesses, are telling us the same thing: they cannot hire or retain workers if those workers cannot find childcare.
The state budget that the legislature recently passed made meaningful investments to childcare and early learning, including support for staff recruitment and retention. These investments matter. But they are not enough to meet the scale of the challenge.
If we want a stronger workforce, a stronger economy, and stronger communities, we must build a childcare system that is affordable, reliable, and accessible for every family. That means investing in early educators so that childcare is a stable career, not a short-term job. It means easing eligibility cliffs so families can advance without fear. And it means expanding access so more children can learn, grow, and thrive.
Pennsylvania’s future depends on the strength of our youngest learners and the families who care for them. We cannot afford to wait. Now is the time to make childcare a true priority and to give working families the support they deserve.