Report: Examining the Present and Future of Child Care in Kansas

2022 is an optimal time to examine the future of child care in Kansas, USA. Disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic are less frequent, yet longstanding challenges such as the cost of child care, high staff turnover, and low wages are still present in the sector but exacerbated by new challenges like inflation.

This report examines the perspectives, challenges, and opportunities for child care providers in Kansas. It presents the findings from a survey conducted in partnership by the Center for Public Partnerships & Research (CPPR) at the University of Kansas.

Key Takeaways

• Most owners/directors and providers are planning to stay in the child care industry in the next five years, but financial insecurity and burnout are concerns for both groups.

• About one in five owners/directors and one in four child care staff are not able to pay their bills every month.

• Owners/directors were asked about their willingness to sell their business to their staff to establish a worker-owned cooperative. Most said that they would be unable to sell, because the business is based in their home or because they are the sole employee. However, there may be an opportunity for owners of larger centers to sell to their staff.

• Owners/directors could benefit from, and are interested in working with other providers to cooperatively purchase services.

• Moving to a worker-owned co-op would require workers to have 1) a clear understanding of the benefits in relation to the cost of ownership and 2) significant support in developing the business skills required to run and maintain the business.