South Dakota
Working families in South Dakota need accessible, affordable, quality child care and early learning opportunities for their children.
Currently, federal and state early learning programs reach thousands of young children and their families in South Dakota. But too many working families in South Dakota are missing out. As a direct result of child care issues, the South Dakota economy loses millions of dollars each year in the form of lost earnings, productivity, and revenue.
There are 70K children ages 5 and under in South Dakota – 72% of these children have all available parents in the workforce.
The typical annual cost of child care for an infant in South Dakota is nearly $8,000.
The Child Care and Development Block Grant only reaches 10% of eligible families in South Dakota. (This federal program helps low-income parents afford child care.)
On average, child care providers in South Dakota earn just $26,350 a year; this can make it a challenge to recruit and retain this workforce, leading to supply issues.
South Dakota’s economy loses $329M annually due to child care challenges.
South Dakota: In The Headlines
Child care advocate predicts problem ‘will get worse before better’ in South Dakota
KOTA | December 6, 2024
The average child care provider in South Dakota earns just $26,350 a year, and it says the state’s economy loses $329 million annually due to childcare challenges.
Head Start remains strong in South Dakota
KELO | August 30, 2024
Head Start — a federal program providing early childhood education to children from low income families — has struggled recently in some states but remains strong in South Dakota.
South Dakota’s child care crisis: Challenges & solutions
SDPB | December 10, 2024
Parents across the state struggle to find affordable and adequate child care in their communities.
South Dakota Resources & News
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