HIGHER EDUCATION 2024
SPECIAL SECTION
The Ever-Increasing Demand for Daycare
Across the country , families struggle with the difficult challenge of trying to find affordable , accessible , and reliable childcare or having one parent forgo a career to be a stay-at-home parent . Enrollment in childcare facilities has always been fiercely competitive . Many couples say the first step they take after a positive pregnancy test is to add their expected child to the waitlist for daycare .
Even as new locations open , facilities are struggling to keep up with the demand for preschool and daycare as staffing continues to be a challenge . According to a survey by the National Association for the Education of Young Children , eight out of 10 childcare providers said they were experiencing a staffing problem , unable to find reliable workers . These jobs also require more qualifications such as background checks , certifications , and even advanced schooling to fulfill the requirements for positions .
Yet , childcare providers stand firm in ensuring only the highest standards when hiring staff to care for the kids they serve , many doing whatever they can to increase starting wages and offer additional incentives such as training , paid time off , and health insurance to attract potential hires .
Public vs . Private
When looking into college , students are faced with many decisions ... what major to choose , in-state or out-of-state location , two-year or four-year program . Another option to consider is public versus private colleges . While generally these may look the same or similar on the surface , there are many unique distinctions between the two .
Funding for public institutions typically comes from state and federal governments . This provides students with the ability to pay less for tuition , as government subsidies cover a portion of costs . Private schools rely on tuition to cover a large portion of their overall funding , making it harder to provide a low cost of attendance . Financial aid is available for students at both types of colleges , but private colleges can typically offer more funding by way of grants and scholarships through endowments . Financial aid is often what makes private schools equally , if not more , affordable as public schools .
Degree programs are typically vast at public institutions since their student body is often larger . Students who know their preferred area of study may benefit from a private university that is highly rated in that program . Class size is also something to consider when deciding on a university that ’ s right for you . Class sizes at private colleges are usually much smaller than those at public colleges , which can be in the hundreds . You could connect with professors during office hours at larger schools , but if you ’ re looking to get to know your professors , a private college may be a better fit .
Campus life will vary between public and private colleges and universities , with extracurricular activities ranging from sports and Greek life to clubs and theater groups . Although these options are available at both types of institutions , you ’ ll likely have more selection at a public college versus private . The campus around you is something to consider as well . Would you rather live on campus or off ? Many private schools require most students to live on campus at least one or two years . n
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