The operational and financial impacts of COVID-19 on Pennsylvania child care providers and staff have been significant. Most child care programs closed, at least temporarily, in the initial weeks of the pandemic, eliminating income even while costs continued to accrue. Throughout the closure, nearly all providers did not charge tuition, which had substantial financial impacts. This post by Philip Sirinides, associate professor of education at Penn State Harrisburg, provides an overview of a study designed to understand the impact of COVID-19 on child care providers in Pennsylvania and offers recommendations going forward.
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