The pandemic has shown that child care in the U.S. isn’t working. Most early childhood caregivers and teachers don’t earn a living wage.

Kelli LaFont and Lauren Pyle both know they, not their husbands, will stay home if their children are exposed to COVID-19.

Econ Extra Credit newsletter #73

Early childhood reporter for KPCC and LAist, Mariana Dale, explains why many child care providers are financially overextended.

Econ Extra Credit newsletter #72

The training enables them to help fill the child care gap as entrepreneurs, supporting Houston moms who want to enter or rejoin the workforce.

The monthly payments can lead to small changes that have long-term effects, experts say.

The new Care Economy Business Council is pushing for government policies around paid child care and family leave.

It’s labor intensive, and caregiver wages are most of the cost. Still, workers, mostly women of color, make “near-poverty wages.”

Pandemic child care struggles and economic fallout may create a more receptive environment for Biden administration priorities.