Colorado faces a funding crisis for child care − local communities hope to fill the gaps

A lack of access to child care costs the state an estimated $2.7 billion in lost productivity and revenue.

By: Jenn Finders, Colorado State University, The Conversation

Outlets: The Conversation

Published: January 6, 2026

Words: 1,328

Last Updated: 3 days, 10 hours ago

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By Jenn Finders, Colorado State University

Colorado is the sixth-least affordable state for child care in the nation. Costs for center-based care average 14% of a two-parent household’s median income and 45% of a single parent’s median income. The federal affordability benchmark is just 7%.

Colorado also faces significant shortages in access to slots in licensed child care programs. In 2023, more than 40,000 Colorado parents reported quitting a job, turning down a …

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