The True Cost of Quality Child Care in Washington A report by the Washington Child Care Collaborative Task Force | Page 25

Private tuition Tuition data is included in the model based on the 2021 market rate study . The model uses the 85th percentile of the market rate as the tuition amount to align with DCYF-set WCCC subsidy rates . Users must select which market region to use for comparing cost to market tuition , given that the market rate study regions are different from the Child Care Aware of Washington regions used for the cost analysis .

Child and Adult Care Food Program The cost estimation model accounts for revenue from the federal Child and Adult Care Food Program ( CACFP ). The federal food program reimburses providers for meals served to children , with different rates based on family eligibility . The most recent CACFP rates are included , and the model assumes that all children eligible for a subsidy are also eligible for CACFP .

Even with low provider wages , WCCC reimbursement rates fall short

As part of the cost of quality care study , P5FS analyzed current costs — including current provider wages , which we know to be insufficient — to provide a baseline against which to measure proposed policy changes . Table 1 details average current salaries for child care providers by role and region for child care centers and family child care homes . P5FS ' s report notes that current WCCC subsidy rates throughout the technical report are based on market rate data from 2018 . Data from the 2021 market rate study are available , though at the release of this report reimbursement rates were not calculated using the updated rate study .

Table 1 : Current child care provider salaries based on survey data

Program Director

Assistant Director

Admin . Assistant

$ 35,265 $ 34,944 $ 40,569 $ 40,035 $ 35,626 $ 37,503

$ 31,738 $ 31,449 $ 36,512 $ 36,032 $ 32,063 $ 33,752

$ 30,139 $ 30,139 $ 34,175 $ 30,139 $ 30,139 $ 30,139

Lead Teacher $ 32,550 $ 32,552 $ 37,261 $ 36,252 $ 31,302 $ 33,210

Assistant Teacher

$ 28,579 $ 28,451 $ 29,126 $ 27,772 $ 26,040 $ 26,780

Aide / Floater $ 22,616 $ 26,597 $ 26,342 $ 23,656 $ 19,781 $ 20,625

FCC Provider / Owner

FCC Assistant Teacher

$ 58,043 $ 32,493 $ 42,462 $ 36,079 $ 40,789 $ 34,427

$ 28,579 $ 28,451 $ 29,126 $ 27,772 $ 26,040 $ 26,780 Source : P5FS cost of quality survey , administered March – April 2022 .

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