Rep. Jarrells Visits Schoenbaum Family Center Amid Rising Childcare Costs
COLUMBUS — State Rep. Dontavius L. Jarrells (D-Columbus) last Friday visited Schoenbaum Family Center in Columbus, an early childhood education center dedicated to providing high-quality education and serving lower-income families. The visit focused on the impact of recent and proposed changes to Ohio’s publicly funded childcare system.
Staff and families shared concerns about reduced reimbursement rates, shifting eligibility rules, and reduced incentives for high-quality programming. These changes make it more challenging for childcare providers, such as Schoenbaum Family Center, to maintain strong educational services for the communities that they serve.
“Far too many Ohio families are being forced to make impossible decisions between maintaining their careers, paying their bills, and securing quality childcare for their children. At the same time, childcare providers and educators are working tirelessly to serve families while navigating growing financial strain and operational uncertainty,” said Rep. Jarrells. “What I heard here in our community reinforces the fact that access to affordable, high-quality childcare is not simply a family issue. It is an economic issue, a workforce issue, and a moral issue. Ohio must make meaningful investments that support both working families and the providers dedicated to caring for our children.”
This visit underscored the urgent need for Ohio to strengthen its investment in publicly funded childcare and early childhood education as rising childcare costs limit options for Ohio families. Childcare costs have increased an estimated 29% since 2020, significantly outpacing inflation. As a result, childcare costs the average Franklin County family over 12% of household income. This is unmanageable and unreasonable for most families. As a result of these inordinate cost increases, parents and guardians are forced to sacrifice hours and income to save money on untenable childcare costs.
“It was wonderful to be able to speak with Rep. Jarrells about early care and education in Ohio. Families at our school gather weekly to discuss parenting and young children in an informal coffee hour, and hosting Rep. Jarrells provided an opportunity for families to share their experiences as working parents,” said Anneliese Johnson, Principal of Schoenbaum Family Center. “In addition, our staff shared how Publicly Funded Child Care is administered within a high-quality early childhood program, and how recent changes to the program continue to impact school operations. We remain committed to providing excellent care and education for children while working to balance the increasing operational demands of publicly funded childcare with the need to keep care accessible and affordable for families.”
Families, educators, and providers alike continue to face growing financial pressures that threaten access to affordable, high-quality care. Ensuring that childcare remains accessible and sustainable is critical not only for children’s development, but also for supporting working families, strengthening the workforce, and building healthier communities across Ohio.