Shay Cosey is so broke working at a child care center that she can’t even afford to send her son to her own workplace. At a press conference held March 3 at the Wilder Child Development Center, Cosey spoke out about the financial strain she faces.
“I am not paid enough [as a child care worker] to put my own child in child care,” Cosey said. “Let me say that again: I am not paid enough to afford to put my own child in child care.” The cost of child care has soared to rival college tuition and mortgage payments.
Britta Thielen, a fundraiser in higher education, pays $2,000 a month for her son to attend a day care center that accommodates her schedule. One of the key benefits of early child care for Thielen is the opportunity it gives her son to socialize with other children.
“He’s learning his letters, numbers, and even the days of the week,” Thielen said. “The center gives him the skills to get ready for school, as well as a nurturing environment for his emotional and social growth.”
LeAndra Estis, a St. Paul resident, sacrificed her credit score racking up bills just to have receipts proving that she meets the income requirements for child care assistance. Now, she’s on the defensive as the Trump Administration has proposed massive cuts to child care centers nationwide.
“The federal funding freeze that the Trump administration has proposed is seriously threatening the funding for child care assistance in Minnesota,” Estis said. “If that funding disappears, child care, as we know it, will disappear.”
Monique Stumon, director of the School Readiness Learning Academy on the North Side, also addressed the racial disparities in child care. “So often, our little Black and brown babies are not getting the resources they need to start school,” she said. “The industry needs workers, right? Many of these workers are mothers and fathers who need a safe, quality child care environment for their own children, which is why we’re here today.”
Data from Minnesota’s wage statistics reveals that Black or African American workers make up 13% of the workforce in child care. Child care is one of the most underpaid jobs, rivalling restaurant cooks in the race to the lowest wages. In 2023, 620 child care jobs went unfilled.
Legislators are pushing for solutions to Minnesota’s child care crisis. The Great Start Scholarship, a proposed legislative program, aims to make child care more affordable by capping costs at 7% of a family’s income. The program would also provide sustainable funding for providers and ensure child care teachers earn a living wage.
Sen. Liz Boldon (D-Rochester) expressed concern over the rising costs of child care. “That’s not sustainable,” Boldon said.
Sen. Grant Hauschild shared a personal story during the press conference. While grocery shopping, he was surprised to hear a voice call his son’s name. “Henry, Henry, Henry,” he heard, only to find that the child care teacher caring for his child was also working a third job at Target to make ends meet. “Meanwhile, I’m strolling the aisles at Target, and the teacher helping to raise my child is telling me she has to work at Target to afford her life,” Hauschild said.
Hauschild emphasized the need for continued funding for programs like the Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) and Early Childhood Scholarships. He and Sen. Boldon are co-sponsoring a new bill called the “Great Start Affordability Package,” which aims to ensure that no family in Minnesota spends more than 7% of their income on child care. “It’s a costly bill, but it will make a huge difference for families,” Hauschild said.
Hauschild also advocated for universal child care, comparing it to the way K-12 education is provided publicly. “Zero to five years old is the most critical developmental stage for children,” he said. “There’s no reason why we shouldn’t treat child care like we do K-12 education. This will benefit the workforce and the economy.”
Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanigan shared a personal story about her family’s reliance on public programs like SNAP and medical assistance, including the Child Care Assistance Program. “These programs allowed my mom to go back to school and earn her certificate in phlebotomy, which helped lift our family into the middle class,” Flanigan said.
The press conference highlighted the urgent need for increased investment in affordable, high-quality child care — a cause that has become a major focus for legislators and advocates in Minnesota.