August-September 2024 PA Child Care Staffing Crisis Survey

Complete Survey by SEPTEMBER 27, 2024

The Start Strong PA Campaign is collecting information from child care directors and owners about the on-going staffing crisis. While the recently passed 2024-25 state budget included funding to help families better afford child care, we know child care programs are still in desperate need of more funding to keep their classroom and program doors open.

The information collected will be used to demonstrate the urgent need for our 2025-2026 state budget to fund a child care teacher recruitment and retention initiative so the workforce is paid a livable wage and programs remain open for working families.

Surveys completed by Friday, September 27, 2024 will be entered into a drawing for a $100 gift card. Four gift cards will be awarded.

Question Title

* 1. Child Care Program Information (if multisite, please fill out a separate survey for each location)

Program Director Name *

Child Care Program Name *

Program Address *

County

City/Town *

State/Province

ZIP/Postal Code *

Director Email Address *

Phone Number

Question Title

* 2. Do you have OPEN (unfilled) STAFF POSITIONS?

YES

Question Title

* 3. How many OPEN (unfilled) STAFF POSITIONS do you have? (if none answer 0)

Question Title

* 4. Do you have CLOSED classrooms?

YES

Question Title

* 5. How many classrooms (of each type) are closed in your program? (if none answer 0)

Infant classrooms

Toddler classrooms

Preschool classrooms

School age classrooms

Question Title

* 6. Are you having challenges RECRUITING (hiring) teachers to work at your program?

YES

Other (please specify)

Question Title

* 7. Rank your challenges in teacher RECRUITMENT (hiring). Rank #1 for your top challenge.

Low wages (potential applicants can make more money working somewhere else)

N/A

Lack of benefits like health insurance, retirement benefits, and paid leave (potential applicants can get more benefits someplace else)

N/A

Awareness (difficulty in advertising open positions)

N/A

Applicants are not qualified

N/A

Question Title

* 8. Please comment with any additional challenges you are having RECRUITING teachers.

Question Title

* 9. Are you having challenges RETAINING teachers (keeping them from leaving) your program?

YES

Other (please specify)

Question Title

* 10. Rank your challenges in teacher RETENTION? Rank #1 for your top challenge.

Low wages

N/A

Lack of benefits

N/A

Burnout / exhaustion

N/A

Difficulty meeting job requirements

N/A

Question Title

* 11. Please comment with any additional challenges you are having RETAINING teachers.

Question Title

* 12. How many more children could you enroll if fully staffed? (if your site is fully enrolled answer 0)

Question Title

* 13. Can we contact you for additional information or clarification?

Yes

If yes please include the best way to reach you (phone number and/or email).

Question Title

* 14. Would you be willing to share your story about the impact of the child care staffing crisis?

Yes