Pennsylvania State Profile

View Pennsylvania's state profile in PDF format.

Key Facts About

Children birth to 3 years, their families, and the child care system that serves them

2007 estimated population: 12,432,792
U.S. Census 2007 Population Estimate

2000 population: 12,281,054
U.S. Census 2000

Administration for Children and Families (ACF)-Child Care Bureau Data

• An average of 22,586 of children 0-3 are served per month by the Child Care and Development Fund
  (FY 2006 ACF-801 data, Child Care Bureau)
• In Federal Fiscal Year 2008 the Infant/Toddler Child Care and Development Fund appropriation = $2,985,175
  (FY 2008 CCDF Allocations Based on Appropriations,U.S. Dept. of HHS, ACF)
• CCDF Subsidy Rates for Infants at 11 months of age (Daily Rates)
  
  Center    $42.00
  FCC        $34.00
  Exempt  $15.00
  

(FY 2008 CCDF State Plans, U.S. Dept. of HHS, ACF) (as approved and subject to change) (for illustrative purposes only these rates highlight only the highest urban area rates)

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) - Office of Head Start Data

2,428 children served in Early Head Start, 2,398 ACF-Funded, 30 Non-ACF-Funded Enrollment (e.g. state or privately funded spaces)
(2007 Early Head Start Funded Enrollment) (EHSNRC Database-October 2007)

U.S. Department of Education (DOE) - IDEA, Part C Data

14,957 children under 3 receive early intervention services under IDEA, Part C
(U.S. Dept. of Education, Office of Special Ed. Programs, Data Analysis System (DANS), 2006)

Child Care Referral Data

29% of all the requests for child care to the child care resource and referral programs were for infant and toddler care
(Child Care Profile, 2008 State Facts NACCRRA)

Special initiatives within the State/Territory

Infant/Toddler Caregiver Credential:	Yes
Quality Rating System *:	Operating Statewide
Early Learning Guidelines for 0-3:	Yes
Infant/Toddler Specialist Network:	Yes

Child Care Licensing data - Staff to Child ratios

In Center-Based Care the staff-to-child ratios are
1:4 for infants (0-12 months); 1:5 for young toddlers (13 to 24 months); 1:6 for older toddlers (25 to 36 months)

For mixed ages: 1:4 for groups incl. infants, young and older toddlers, and infants with preschoolers; 1:5 for groups incl. young toddlers and preschoolers; 1:6 for groups incl. older toddlers and preschoolers.

These ratios also apply to Group Child Care Homes, which may care for a maximum of 12 children (or maximum of 15 if all are school-age)
(State Licensing Regulations)

In Family Child Care the staff-to-child ratios are
1:6 (with no more than 4 children under 6, and of these, no more than 2 under 18 months) or 2:8 (with no more than 4 children under 18 months)
(State Licensing Regulations)

In Group Family Child Care the staff-to-child ratios are
1:6 (with no more than 5 infants and/or toddlers)
(State Licensing Regulations)

Children under the age of 3 data

435,959 Children Under the Age of 3 live in Pennsylvania

Under 1	145,306
1-2 years	145,427
2-3 years	145,226

U.S. Census 2007 Population Estimate

Women with Children Under the Age of 3 in the Labor Force Data

62% of Pennsylvania Women with Children Under the Age of 3 Are in the Labor Force

Employed	62%
Not in the Labor Force	33%
Unemployed	5%

Current Population Survey, March 2001

Infant Child Care Fees data

Average annual fee for full-time child care for an infant in:

Center based care	$11,200
Family child care home	$8,090

Cost As a percent of Income Data

Cost of child care for an infant as percent of median income for two-parent families	15%
Cost of child care for an infant as percent of median income for single parent families	49%

Child Care in America: State Facts, NACCRRA, 2008

State/Territory Lead Child Care Lead Agency Information

Office of Child Development and Early Learning
Departments of Education and Public Welfare
333 Market Street, 6th Floor
Harrisburg, PA 17126-0333

Voice: 717-346-9320 or 877-PA-KID8 (877-472-5437)
Fax: 717-346-9330
Website: http://www.dpw.state.pa.us/ServicesPrograms/ChildCareEarlyEd/

For the CCDF Administrator's contact information go to:
http://nccic.acf.hhs.gov/statedata/dirs/display.cfm?title=ccdf

For more information about Pennsylvania go to:
http://nccic.acf.hhs.gov/statedata/statepro/display.cfm?state=Pennsylvania

^*Source: NCCIC, 2008 Back