Oklahoma
Working families in Oklahoma 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 Oklahoma. But too many working families in Oklahoma are missing out. As a direct result of child care issues, the Oklahoma economy loses millions of dollars each year in the form of lost earnings, productivity, and revenue.
In the state, 61% of children have all available parents participating in the workforce, while the average cost of care is $10,809 a year (or $901 per month).
More than 20,000 children ages 5 and under have child care costs subsidized through the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG), or 24% of those eligible. The average copay with a CCDBG subsidy is $276 a month.
14.8K children receive care, learning, nutrition, and other services at no cost through Early Head Start/Head Start (or 14% of those eligible for Early Head Start and 30% of those eligible for Head Start).
And 45.1K 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 $1.5 billion each year in lost earnings and productivity.
Oklahoma: In The Headlines
The cost of child care is too high for many Oklahoma families.
KGOU | June 4, 2026
Child care costs are soaring. Infant care at child care centers rose 27% from 2023 to 2025, according to the Oklahoma Partnership for School Readiness.
Oklahoma receives $9.5M to expand home visiting services
The Journal Record | October 6, 2026
Oklahoma has received federal funding through the Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting Program to continue voluntary home visiting services for pregnant women, parents and young children.
Oklahoma City Head Start Agency Warns Rising Costs Could Shutter Classrooms
Hoodline | October 20, 2026
Statewide in Oklahoma, Early Head Start and Head Start programs serve 14,800 children at no cost, but that reaches only 14% of children eligible for Early Head Start and 30% of those eligible for Head Start.
Oklahoma Resources & News
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