For many families, child care isn’t just a challenge—it’s an impossible math problem. A new report from the Economic Policy Institute lays out the stark reality: in 38 states and Washington, D.C., the cost of child care now surpasses in-state college tuition. In some places, it even exceeds rent. Policymakers have long debated solutions, but as child care prices rise faster than wages, the gap grows wider. New Mexico has made strides in addressing affordability, but nationwide, families are still waiting for relief.
We’ll be providing a bit more detail on North Dakota’s circumstances in the coming days. The original article can be found on Stateline by Kevin Hardy.