The True Cost of Quality Child Care in Washington A report by the Washington Child Care Collaborative Task Force

The True Cost of Quality Child Care in Washington A report by the Washington Child Care Collaborative Task Force | Page 15

• A family with two young children in Washington currently spends about 35.5 % of its income to send two children to child care . ¹⁹

Fortunately , the cost of quality care estimation model is a timely tool that can help stabilize and grow Washington ' s child care system through significant public investments . The task force is pleased to submit the enclosed recommendations to the Legislature . Together with the cost estimation model , these recommendations present a plan for addressing child care workforce recruitment and retention in service of increasing access , affordability , and quality for children and families . Without intervention , the child care market will continue to fall short of meeting demand . It is a precarious and unstable situation that needs and deserves to be addressed — for the sake of our children , families , and economy .

19 Economic Policy Institute . Child Care Costs in the U . S ., Washington

2022 COST OF QUALITY CHILD CARE LEGISLATIVE REPORT 12