The Schuylkill Chamber of Commerce is welcoming increased state funding for child care and early learning programs included in Pennsylvania’s 2026–27 budget.
The spending plan increases funding for the newly created Child Care Staff Recruitment and Retention Program by $5 million, from $25 million to $30 million. The 20% increase is intended to help child care providers recruit qualified teachers, retain experienced employees and keep classrooms open.
The budget also includes an additional $3.75 million for Pennsylvania Pre-K Counts and approximately $1 million more for the Head Start Supplemental Assistance Program.
Chamber officials said the investments could help early learning programs respond to rising operating costs, low educator wages and persistent staffing shortages.
“Pennsylvania’s local chambers of commerce and economic development organizations have consistently made the case that child care is essential economic infrastructure,” Schuylkill Chamber President and CEO Robert S. Carl Jr. said.
Carl said a lack of reliable child care prevents some parents from participating consistently in the workforce and makes it more difficult for employers to recruit and retain workers.
“Growing the Child Care Staff Recruitment and Retention Program by 20 percent is an important recognition that investing in the early learning workforce is also an investment in Pennsylvania’s businesses, communities and economy,” Carl said.
The Schuylkill Chamber has helped lead a statewide coalition of local chambers advocating for solutions to Pennsylvania’s child care workforce shortage and the financial challenges facing providers.
According to the chamber, 81 local chambers and economic development organizations participated in the advocacy effort.
“This progress would not have occurred without the 81 local chambers and economic development organizations speaking together with one strong business voice,” said Samantha Chivinski, executive vice president of the Schuylkill Chamber.
Chivinski thanked the coalition’s participating organizations, members of the General Assembly and the Shapiro administration for recognizing the connection between child care, working families and Pennsylvania employers.
Carl said early childhood education should be viewed as fundamental infrastructure rather than an optional service available only to families fortunate enough to have access in their communities.
He said the years between ages 2 and 5 are formative for children, affecting their lifelong development and their ability to become successful members of their communities and the future workforce.
Although the final funding amounts fell short of the increases requested by the coalition, the Schuylkill Chamber called the additional investment meaningful progress and a foundation for continued advocacy.
Chamber officials said staffing shortages often prevent child care providers from opening classrooms even when space is available. As a result, parents can remain on waiting lists while employees are forced to reduce their working hours or leave the workforce entirely.
The chamber plans to continue working with child care providers, employers, policymakers, economic development organizations and other local chambers to pursue long-term solutions aimed at stabilizing Pennsylvania’s child care sector.