Idaho
Working families in Idaho 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 Idaho. But too many working families in Idaho are missing out. As a direct result of child care issues, the Idaho economy loses millions of dollars each year in the form of lost earnings, productivity, and revenue.
In the state, 57% of children have all available parents participating in the workforce, while the average cost of care is $10,608 a year (or $884 per month).
More than 4,000 children ages 5 and under have child care costs subsidized through the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG), or 17% of those eligible. The average copay with a CCDBG subsidy is $75 a month.
3.7K children receive care, learning, nutrition, and other services at no cost through Early Head Start/Head Start (or 8% of those eligible for Early Head Start and 21% of those eligible for Head Start).
And 27.1K working families have the cost of their child care offset through the Child + Dependent Care Tax Credit (CDCTC).
However, many working parents still struggle to access affordable, quality child care, which costs the state’s economy an estimated $688 million each year in lost earnings and productivity.
Idaho: In The Headlines
Child care costs far exceed affordability for Idaho families
Idaho News | January 21, 2026
Child care expenses have become increasingly burdensome for families, with LendingTree research highlighting the financial strain.
Opinion: Idaho’s kindergarten readiness and workforce challenges share the same root — and the same solution
Idaho Ed News | February 26, 2026
Too many Idaho families lack access to the early care and learning resources their children need.
Idaho ranks last for kindergarten-ready skills, parent survey finds
Idaho Ed News | February 5, 2026
Idaho’s 3- to 5-year-olds rank last in the nation for early learning skills needed to be ready for kindergarten, according to data recently released from the National Survey of Children’s Health.
Idaho Resources & News
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