District of Columbia
Working families in District of Columbia need accessible, affordable, quality child care and early learning opportunities for their children.
Currently, federal and state early learning programs reach thousands of young children and their families in District of Columbia. But too many working families in District of Columbia are missing out. As a direct result of child care issues, the District of Columbia economy loses millions of dollars each year in the form of lost earnings, productivity, and revenue.
There are 48K children ages 5 and under in DC – 75% of these children have all available parents in the workforce.
The typical annual cost of child care for an infant in DC is around $25,000.
The Child Care and Development Block Grant only reaches 5% of eligible families in DC. (This federal program helps low-income parents afford child care.)
On average, child care providers in DC earn just $37,480 a year; this can make it a challenge to recruit and retain this workforce, leading to supply issues.
District of Columbia’s economy loses $769M annually due to child care challenges
DC: In The Headlines
District Head Start providers facing flat funding, political opposition
DC News Now | jULY 31, 2025
Head Start providers in the District will work with tight budgets under President Trump’s proposed budget, while operating costs increase.
Opinion: As Schools Shrink, D.C.’s Public Pre-K Shows Lasting Enrollment Benefits
The 74 | fEBRUARY 6, 2025
D.C.’s pre-K program has impacts well beyond improving children’s development and well-being. Others have found that it shapes a wider range of families’ decisions and behaviors.
Increasing child care teacher pay doesn’t have to mean charging parents more
Vox | October 28, 2024
Leading researchers have been analyzing the impact of DC’s wage supplement program on child care providers and the early education sector more broadly.
District of Columbia Resources & News
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