Affordable daycare called critical to U.S. economic recovery

In addition to good-paying jobs, affordable child care options play a critical role in helping U.S. workers recover from the coronavirus pandemic, according to early education experts.

Sending children to low-cost child care centers will enable parents — particularly women — to return to the office, according to Richard Weissman, CEO of the Learning Experience, a Florida-based child care chain. Nearly 3 million American women left the labor force during the pandemic, and have yet to reclaim their jobs, in part because they're shouldering increased child care responsibilities.  Learning Experience facilities charge about $4-$8 an hour per child, according to Weissman, which he says is affordable for dual-income families, despite the increase in labor costs.