March 3, 2025
Across the country, there is a growing call for child care “deregulation” by state legislators. With costs increasing, legislators are hearing from constituents—both providers and parents— about the high cost of child care, the low pay of the workforce, and frustrations with regulations. Without understanding the complexities of child care programs, and with an awareness that low pay in child care is leading to staffing shortages, legislators are looking for solutions.
It’s time to rethink child care regulations and identify how to best promote the safety, health, and growth of children. It is not “deregulation” that is needed, but a review of decades of regulations layered over time that have increased the cost of care, the cost of monitoring, and are confusing for child care providers and parents. One thing is certain: no one wants to put small children in harm’s way.