Jennifer Williams, a former school counselor from Oklahoma City, now spends her weekdays taking care of her sons, Skyler, 2, and SJ, 4. She left her full-time job to manage the high childcare costs that made it difficult to afford daycare for both children. Williams said leaving work was challenging, but it was necessary for her family.
I can’t imagine anything different now, but finances made the choice for me,
Williams shared.
Childcare expenses have surged across the United States. Child Care Aware of America reported a significant increase in the national average price of childcare, rising over 20% from 2022 to 2025, reaching $13,184 annually. The increase affects infant care similarly.
In Oklahoma, childcare for a 4-year-old increased by 9% and infant care costs rose by 20% from 2022 to 2025. The state’s infant care expenses grew by 36% according to state data. Comparatively, Louisiana saw a 21% increase for a 4-year-old and a 30% rise for infant care. In Washington, childcare costs for a 4-year-old and infant both grew by 41%.
Anne Hedgepeth, former senior vice president at Child Care Aware of America, said multiple factors drive cost increases, including how states subsidize low-income family childcare. States conduct market-rate surveys to set subsidy levels but delayed these surveys during the COVID-19 pandemic, inadequately adjusting for inflation.
Hedgepeth highlighted that childcare programs face similar expenses as families, covering food, supplies, rent, or mortgages. Thus, families must pay more, while providers make cuts.
Oklahoma’s Subsidy Policies
Oklahoma’s current subsidies rely on a 2017 market-rate survey. Katie Quebedeaux, a childcare center operator and board member of the Licensed Child Care Association of Oklahoma, stated that subsidies have not matched the rising operation costs. She said, You can’t reimburse us at what was acceptable in 2018 and expect us to cover 2026 expenses.
Additionally, Oklahoma’s revised income eligibility requirements will reduce the number of families qualifying for aid. The state now requires national accreditation for providers to receive the highest reimbursement rates, which involves significant costs.
The state had temporarily used federal COVID-19 relief funds for a $5-per-day, per-child add-on to subsidies. When funds ran out, the program ended in April. Quebedeaux noted that many providers relied on this financial help, impacting their plans and operations.
Rachel Proper, president of Child Care Inc. in Oklahoma, estimates an 18% income loss after the $5 add-on ended. About 70% of her families are low-income and rely on state subsidies. Proper had to cut costs by reducing staff benefits, shortening hours, and eliminating dinner services.
State-Level Solutions
The federal outlook for childcare support is bleak. The Trump administration repealed a policy meant to limit low-income families’ daycare expenses. States are devising their solutions.
Michigan and Kentucky use a tri-share model where state, employer, and family share childcare costs. Despite being a temporary fix, Hedgepeth cautioned that it’s job-dependent. In Iowa, the Statewide Child Care Solutions Fund aligns private and state funds for childcare projects, expected to create 11,000 slots and support 5,000 women to join the workforce, according to a 2024 report.
Oklahoma has a pilot program to both recruit daycare workers and address costs, allowing more childcare facility employees access to subsidies. However, New Mexico stands out as the sole state providing universal, no-cost childcare.
Child Care Aware of America reveals that childcare consumes 10% of a married couple’s median income and 33% of a single parent’s income. Hedgepeth recognized state efforts to improve affordability but conceded that it’s insufficient for many parents.