Our 2025 Central Ohio Child Care Survey Report lays out a stark picture of what’s happening right here in central Ohio: Child care programs can’t cover their costs, families can’t keep up with rising tuition, and more than half of providers aren’t sure they’ll still be open a year from now without additional support.
Whether you’re a parent, employer, policymaker, or community leader, this report explains why early childhood programs are calling this a breaking point, and why finding a solution matters for everyone who depends on a functioning workforce.
View & Download ReportDownload the Executive Summary
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Dr. Katherine Glenn-Applegate is the Director of Child Care Education and Initiatives
at Action for Children, providing leadership to programs that support child care professionals and working with the community to make high-quality programming achievable and accessible. Dr. Glenn-Applegate earned her Ph.D. from The Ohio State University and her M.Ed. from Plymouth State University in New Hampshire.
Dr. Joyce Chen is Professor of Economics in Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies at
The Ohio State University. Dr. Chen’s research focuses on demographic differences in labor market outcomes; the complex relationships between migration, climate change, economic development; and the intra-household allocation of resources. Dr. Chen earned her Ph.D. and M.Ec. from Harvard University.
All child care programs partnering with PFCC saw an adjustment to their reimbursement rates in November 2025, to align to the 50th percentile of the 2024 biennial Market Rate Survey. While the changes benefited some programs (such as those providing school-age care), they also resulted in a decrease in pay for most Type A providers, for infant, toddler and preschool care. By law, this change is required to go into effect no later than December 31, 2025 and continue through June 30, 2027.
Use the calculators below to learn more about the programs providing care and see the real-world financial impact of these rate changes on providers in central Ohio.
Note: This calculator is based on rates set by Ohio’s Department of Children and Youth (DCY) as of November 2, 2025. Updated rates are available on the Ohio DCY website.
“As a Type A provider, I have more and different requirements and responsibilities than Type B, including having an employee that I pay from my income. It doesn’t have to be much more, but the entire time I’ve been licensed Type A, up till now, it always has been more pay for Type A. [The changes made] increased the per child rate for Type B by about $50, but decreased per child rate for my Type A program by about $86 weekly. To offset the decreased rate, we can now be licensed to serve 14 children, but only if we have space. My home only has space for 13 children, so I automatically make less money, and I already do not even receive minimum wage. The new changes are making it difficult to maintain an equitable daily business.”
ABOUT THE PROVIDER: Barbara Burden is the founder and CEO of Licensed Family Childcare Association, located in Franklin County.
Choose your PFCC category and Step Up To Quality level, then enter how many children you have in each age group at full time.
| Age group | Children enrolled Full-time |
Previous rate Per child per week |
New rate Per child per week |
Previous revenue Per week |
New revenue Per week |
Change Per week |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Infant | ||||||
| Toddler | ||||||
| Preschool | ||||||
| School-Age | ||||||
| Total |
With a second staff member, Type A providers can have a maximum of 14 children at one time, and no more than 6 children under age two. (Ohio defines an infant as less than 18 months old, and a toddler as 18 months to 3 years old.)
*This calculator is based on rates set by Ohio’s Department of Children and Youth as of November 2, 2025. Updated rates are available on the Ohio DCY website.
“The child care policy changes that have occurred within the past year came quickly and all at once. As the owner of a family child care program, I am the cook, custodian, taxi driver, teacher, and whatever else that is needed in my 11-hour work day. Staying on top of the new demands on top of my day-to-day has made caring for the children harder than it has ever been, and I am still trying to understand it all. The new changes have hurt the families which we serve and our small businesses that are within our communities, teaching and caring for families.”
ABOUT THE PROVIDER: Carol Beasley is the owner and operator of The Jr. Bistro Family Childcare Learning Program, LLC. Her Type B program is SUTQ Silver-rated in South Columbus.
Choose your PFCC category and Step Up To Quality level, then enter how many children you have in each age group at full time.
| Age group | Children enrolled Full-time |
Previous rate Per child per week |
New rate Per child per week |
Previous revenue Per week |
New revenue Per week |
Change Per week |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Infant | ||||||
| Toddler | ||||||
| Preschool | ||||||
| School-Age | ||||||
| Total |
Type B providers can have a maximum of 7 children at one time, and no more than 3 children under age two. (Ohio defines an infant as less than 18 months old, and a toddler as 18 months to 3 years old.)
*This calculator is based on rates set by Ohio’s Department of Children and Youth as of November 2, 2025. Updated rates are available on the Ohio DCY website.
“Franklin County is already facing a severe shortage of child care options, especially for families living below the federal poverty line. Providers like myself work every day to bridge that gap, but the proposed PFCC policy changes will place significant financial strain on centers like mine that many of us simply cannot absorb. We want to continue serving our communities, but we cannot do so if reimbursement structures make it financially impossible to keep our doors open.”
ABOUT THE PROVIDER: Leanna Jackson is the founder of Chosen Kids Learning Center (CKLC), a privately owned child care provider with three SUTQ-rated locations in Columbus, Ohio.
Choose your PFCC category and Step Up To Quality level, then enter how many children you have in each age group at full time.
| Age group | Children enrolled Full-time |
Previous rate Per child per week |
New rate Per child per week |
Previous revenue Per week |
New revenue Per week |
Change Per week |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Infant | ||||||
| Toddler | ||||||
| Preschool | ||||||
| School-Age | ||||||
| Total |
*This calculator is based on rates set by Ohio’s Department of Children and Youth as of November 2, 2025. Updated rates are available on the Ohio DCY website.
