The U.S. Child Care Crisis Explained

The American child care crisis is decades old and continues to disproportionately affect women.

The Child Care Staffing Crisis Is Getting Worse

High turnover and staffing shortages have long been a scourge of early childhood education, but for many child care providers, the struggle has ratcheted up considerably during the pandemic. That was true in the height of the outbreak last year, and it remains true now.

‘We’re back to panicking’: Moms are hit hardest with camps, day cares and schools closing again

Parents of children under 12 are once again struggling to juggle work and child care. There’s concern about another mass resignation of moms.

Biden’s child care plan faces a critical test

"First we have to build the capacity and get the workers, and then we will have the ability then to move on," Sen. Patty Murray says.

California labor contract promises raises for child care providers

More than 40,000 California family child care providers will see a raise next year thanks to the Child Care Providers United union’s first labor contract with the state.

Child Care During Competitions Presents A Major Hurdle For Olympians And Paralympians

If you think parenting is stressful, imagine parenting while also competing as a Paralympic athlete. Lora Webster, who competes in sitting volleyball, is a mother of three, with number four on the way.

Ask HR: Should I Ask My Employer for Help Finding Child Care?

SHRM President and Chief Executive Officer Johnny C. Taylor, Jr., SHRM-SCP, is answering HR questions as part of a series for USA Today. Do you have an HR or work-related question you'd like him to answer? Submit it here.

Combining job training, child care could be ‘magic road’ to single moms’ economic security

Subscribe to Here’s the Deal, our politics newsletter for analysis you won’t find anywhere else. Special correspondent Cat Wise and producer Kate McMahon report from Mississippi, where many working parents struggled to find affordable, quality child care long before the pandemic.

The ‘stars aligned’ in budget deal, but hurdles remain for early education

California families won big in the budget signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom this week — financing a half-million new child care seats and the nation’s boldest spread of preschool since the advent of Head Start nearly six decades ago.

Mothers struggle to return to work as California reopens

Before the pandemic, Patricia Gutierrez would drop her 8-year-old autistic son off at school in San Jose and her 4-year-old son off at day care every morning.