Need child care? It'll cost you.
Child-care center costs in New York state are among the least affordable in the nation, according to a study released today. In fact, a year of full-time care at a center for an infant or preschooler could cost about double the tuition and fees at a four-year public college in the state, according to the National Association of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies' study.
Yet even with New York's high costs, child-care workers are still among the lowest paid compared to other occupations, said Linda Smith, NACCRRA executive director. She said parents can't afford to pay more, and child-care centers can't afford to cut rates while maintaining quality.
"We've hit the wall with child care in this country. We can't do any more unless we invest public money," Smith said. "Unless we invest in the birth to 5 years . . . by the time we are investing in public education, we're playing catch-up."
The study ranked New York state second to Oregon on a list of the 10 least affordable states for full-time care for a 4-year-old at a child-care center with an average cost of $9,391 per year. New York placed sixth on a list of the top 10 least affordable states for full-time care of an infant at a child-care center, with an average cost of $11,887 per year, according to the study.
The study ranked states based on the percentage child-care costs take up of the median two-parent family income for that state. It did not list average rates by county.
Smith notes that New York state also leads the nation in terms of over-
sight of child-care programs and enforcement of standards.
Stella Penizotto, owner of Shining Stars Daycare Inc. with centers in East Syracuse and Manlius, said New York requires more education for teachers and allows one teacher to supervise fewer children than some other states. And that costs money.