Nearly half of young children in the United States live in childcare deserts, according to a new analysis.

In North Dakota, at least 14 counties meet less than 60% of the demand for childcare. The Center for American Progress says the gap is even higher in remote communities, creating a stark urban-rural divide.

Casey Peeks, the Center's senior director of early childhood policy, said policymakers are rightfully focused on affordability issues, given that childcare costs are out of reach for most American families, but added that’s only part of the problem.

Image

"You could make childcare free for every family living in a rural community tomorrow, but that's not going to solve the access piece," she said. "We both need to bring down the cost for families, but we also need to think about supply solutions."

Peeks said inadequate staffing leads to program closures and results in less options and higher costs for families. Head Start, which helps to fill the gap for low-income families, is also sorely lacking. The report shows nearly half of rural communities don’t have access to these programs. About 65% of children in North Dakota depend on Tribal Head Start services for care.

The average annual cost for childcare in North Dakota is about $12,000, more than undergraduate tuition at a state university. The average childcare worker gets paid about $13.50 an hour.

Hailey Gibbs, associate director of the Center's early childhood policy team, argued that the system doesn't sufficiently prioritize children’s needs. While it's often said childcare helps working parents, she described the sector as a “pay-to-play” system that undervalues caregivers and early educators.

"You could make childcare free for every family living in a rural community tomorrow, but that's not going to solve the access piece," she said. "We need to bring down the cost for families, but we also need to think about supply solutions."

Gibbs said the data underscores the need for comprehensive solutions that address both cost and availability simultaneously, which starts with better wages for childcare professionals. She added that both state and federal lawmakers also need to address the lack of public investment that creates a chasm between what families can afford and what providers need to sustain and grow programs."