Child care centers received $24 billion in pandemic-era funding, but still saw major job losses.
An estimated 3.2 million kids are expected to lose their child care spots, according to an analysis by The Century Foundation. GREENBELT, Md. — It's barely 10 a.m. on a Wednesday, but the day at Greenway Learning Center is well underway. Story time is done, jelly sandwiches have been eaten and the kids have been divided into the preschoolers and the"twos", with infants in another room. As the preschoolers review their numbers, the 2-year-olds play with brightly colored blocks.
But she's not sure how much longer Ahmad can stay. Proctor is one of millions of families that have had help paying for child care thanks to $24 billion in pandemic-era funding Congress passed in 2021. The funding is set to expire on Sept. 30, and The Century Foundation estimates that 3.2 million kids in the U.S. will lose their spot in child care.