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

By: Jenn Finders

Outlets: Colorado Newsline

Published: January 14, 2026

Words: 1,231

Last Updated: 1 month ago

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This commentary was originally published by The Conversation.

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 …

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