Gov. Josh Shapiro highlighted new recruitment and retention bonuses for Pennsylvania’s child care workers during a recent visit to a child care center in Bristol, writes Racquel Williams for KYW Newsradio.
With the commonwealth facing a child care workforce crisis that includes 3,000 unfilled positions, the 2025-26 state budget sets aside $25 million for a new retention and recruitment program that will provide bonuses to licensed child care workers.
This marks the first dedicated funding of its kind in over two decades since pre-K counts began, giving child care its own line item in the state budget.
“This isn’t something I’m hopeful for,” said Shapiro. “This isn’t something that is aspirational. This is something we got done. This is law in Pennsylvania, and people are benefiting from that hard work. And it represented a huge step forward when it comes to affording child care.”
The program will give bonuses of up to $450 to 55,000 child care workers statewide.
Valerie Hamilton, owner and operator of Children of God Educational Services in Bristol, said the amount in the budget is only half of what workers requested from lawmakers, though they remain grateful for the much-needed support.
Read more about the child care bonuses highlighted by Gov. Josh Shapiro during his Bristol visit at KYW Newsradio.
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