Accredited programs cost even more
Among the 35 states which reported data, full-time accredited care for an infant in a center ranged from $4,560 to $16,835 per year. Accredited care can cost over 30 percent more (Detail Table 8). This percentage may be even higher, as the overall price averages include the price of accredited care. But, because accredited care is only a small portion of available child care, the overall price mainly represents the price of unaccredited care. Comparing percentages, Idaho leads the nation in the cost disparity between accredited and unaccredited care. In raw dollar terms, the least affordable state for accredited care in a center for infants is Hawaii, where parents pay at least $4,104 more per year for accredited care (Table 7).
As challenging as it is to afford child care, paying for high-quality care (child care accredited by a national organization) is even more difficult. Accreditation represents a mark of high quality in early childhood education. To achieve accreditation, early childhood programs are assessed on an array of quality standards and criteria by a nationallyrecognized accrediting body. State licensing standards very greatly, but in general are much lower than accreditation standards. Accredited care requires higher levels of staff training and education, and lower child-to-staff ratios. Studies show that group size is related to quality because caregivers have more frequent and better interaction with the children, and caregivers with higher levels of training in child development provide higher quality care. As a result, however, personnel costs are higher.
For 4-year-old children, full-time accredited care – for the 35 states which reported data - range from $4,056 to $11,960 per year (Detail Table 9). The difference in price for accredited care for 4-year-old children as a percentage of overall price are highest in Nevada and Oklahoma, where parents pay at least $1,737 (24%) and $1,129 (23%) more per year respectively (Table 8).
Table 7
Average Annual Price of Full-Time Care for an Infant in a Center in 2008 Overall Price of Care vs. Price of Accredited Care*
Average Annual Price of Care
Average Annual Price of Accredited Care
Difference in Price
Percent Price Increase for Accredited Care
Idaho
$5,817
$7,995
$2,179
37.5%
Hawaii
$11,496
$15,600
$4,104
35.7%
Missouri
$6,632
$8,609
$1,977
29.8%
Georgia
$6,954
$8,461
$1,507
21.7%
Nevada
$9,012
$10,853
$1,841
20.4%
Oklahoma
$6,595
$7,898
$1,304
19.8%
Minnesota
$12,800
$15,250
$2,450
19.1%
Wisconsin
$10,400
$12,220
$1,820
17.5%
Maryland
$11,962
$13,981
$2,019
16.9%
West Virginia
$6,000
$6,960
$960
16.0%
State
* Only states which reported accredited care costs are listed
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