April 30, 2026
Governor Shapiro’s FY 2026–27 proposed budget largely maintains Pennsylvania’s existing child care system rather than significantly expanding access or affordability. Main items such as Community-Based Family Centers are flat funded, while Child Care Services and Child Care Assistance receive only modest increases that appear closer to maintenance-level adjustments than major expansions. However, the budget does increase Child Care Recruitment and Retention funding by $10 million, which represents the clearest targeted investment in workforce stabilization. Overall, the proposal helps sustain parts of the system but does not fully meet the scale of Pennsylvania’s child care affordability, provider-cost, and workforce challenges.
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