The Daily Sun-Up Child care costs are pricing out both Colorado families and providers
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Feb 19, 2026 Taylor Dolbin, a reporter who researched state policy models, and Erica Brenlin, a reporter on affordability and availability, discuss Colorado’s child care crisis. They explore why families face high costs and limited slots. They compare New Mexico’s universal approach and Vermont’s payroll tax model. They outline estimated statewide funding needs and local policy fixes.
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Affordability And Availability Are Dual Crises
- Colorado faces both affordability and availability crises in child care, with licensed slots lacking in 60 of 64 counties.
- A Colorado family would need nearly $550,000 to afford infant and toddler center care at the federal 7% standard.
A Colorado Couple's Tough Trade-Off
- Dara and Jacob Thomas earn about $125,000 and would need half their take-home pay for child care, forcing a choice about one parent leaving work.
- They are weighing whether one should stay home because full-time care has become unaffordable.
Staffing Ratios Drive Provider Costs
- Child care centers face steep personnel-driven costs because state-mandated caregiver-to-child ratios are very low.
- Those staffing ratios, plus facilities and overhead, squeeze providers and limit profitability.