The at the 小蝌蚪APP examines the economics of early care and education in its most recent public policy brief.
小蝌蚪APP淏lanco Center Policy Briefs小蝌蚪APP provide high-level summaries of issues relevant to policy makers and voters in Louisiana.
Evidence-based data and research in the 小蝌蚪APP淐hild Care and the Economy小蝌蚪APP policy brief focuses on the impact of early care and education on the state小蝌蚪APP檚 workforce and businesses.
In 2020, more than 125,000 children in Louisiana received early care, which costs an average of $8,580 yearly. While that amount is lower than the national average of $11,896, it小蝌蚪APP檚 小蝌蚪APP渘evertheless an expense many families in Louisiana 小蝌蚪APP especially working families 小蝌蚪APP struggle to afford,小蝌蚪APP said Dr. Stephen Barnes, Blanco Public Policy Center director.
小蝌蚪APP淲hen parents must miss work to care for their children, the resulting productivity and income losses, decreased purchasing power, job turnover and other factors create a profound ripple effect. The economic impact extends far beyond one family or one employer,小蝌蚪APP Barnes said.
According to 小蝌蚪APP淐hild Care and the Economy,小蝌蚪APP Louisiana businesses lose a collective $762 million each year as a result of workers staying home to care for children. Overall, the hit to the state小蝌蚪APP檚 economy is $1.3 billion.
Dr. Libbie Sonnier, Louisiana Policy Institute for Children executive director, said such findings underscore 小蝌蚪APP渢he critical need for increased access to early care and education across Louisiana.小蝌蚪APP
小蝌蚪APP淎bout 78% of working families have difficulty finding quality, affordable child care without assistance. As a state, we must prioritize funding mechanisms that make early care and education accessible for our working families,小蝌蚪APP Sonnier said.
Troy Wayman, One Acadiana president and CEO, said altered school schedules, job losses and child care facility closures during the COVID-19 pandemic have exacerbated 小蝌蚪APP渁n already strong need to invest in high-quality child care.小蝌蚪APP
小蝌蚪APP淚t小蝌蚪APP檚 an investment that will help parents return to work, and economic recovery relies on people小蝌蚪APP檚 ability to go back to work,小蝌蚪APP Wayman said.
小蝌蚪APP淚t小蝌蚪APP檚 also an investment that will pay long-term dividends in the state小蝌蚪APP檚 workforce,小蝌蚪APP he added.
According to research in the brief, children who receive high-quality early care and education have better math and reading skills, a greater chance of graduating from high school and, ultimately, earn higher salaries.
小蝌蚪APP淐hild Care and the Economy小蝌蚪APP was developed as part of a collaboration with the . The brief updates research that the institute conducted with LSU小蝌蚪APP檚 Public Policy Research Lab and Entergy in 2017.
小蝌蚪APP淐hild Care and the Economy小蝌蚪APP follows the Blanco Center小蝌蚪APP檚 recent 小蝌蚪APP淔unding Infrastructure in Louisiana小蝌蚪APP brief, which details the long-term economic impact of investment in the state小蝌蚪APP檚 highways, roads and bridges.
Photo caption: Early care and education is the focus of the most recent public policy brief from the Kathleen Babineaux Blanco Public Policy Center at the 小蝌蚪APP. Photo credit: Doug Dugas / 小蝌蚪APP