Pennsylvania Lawmakers Hear Urgent Calls for Child Care Reform

State lawmakers gathered earlier this week at Upper Bucks Technical School for a public hearing aimed at addressing the growing child care crisis in Pennsylvania. The hearing, titled “Child Care Challenges and Solutions,” was led by Rep. Kristin Marcell and co-hosted by Reps. Shelby Labs and Joe Hogan. It brought together child care providers, nonprofit leaders, and business representatives to examine systemic challenges and discuss practical solutions to improve access, affordability, and workforce support.

Throughout the hearing, participants highlighted how outdated and often contradictory regulations have placed a heavy burden on child care providers. From staffing shortages to rising costs, the conversation reflected the urgent need for policy modernization to support both families and providers.

“This hearing gave us a clear look at the gap between well-intended rules and the day-to-day reality for child care providers,” said Marcell. “When working parents cannot find care, they cannot fully participate in the workforce. We need solutions that reflect the real challenges families and providers are facing.”

Testifiers included Aaron Riggleman of the Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry; Marissa Christie, president and CEO of United Way Bucks; Tami Unger of River Crossing YMCA; Bernadette Rodrigo of Children’s Village; and Tiffany Martin of Teddy Bear College. Each shared firsthand experiences with regulatory and workforce hurdles that are limiting capacity and driving up costs for families across the state.

Among the issues discussed were inconsistent staff eligibility requirements that prevent many qualified individuals—particularly young adults—from entering the child care field. Several speakers noted that these barriers discourage potential educators and add unnecessary strain to already under-resourced providers.

“Today’s hearing highlighted just how urgently we need to modernize Pennsylvania’s approach to child care,” said Labs. “We heard from providers who are doing everything they can to meet demand, but who face unnecessary regulatory barriers and staffing challenges. If we want families to thrive and our economy to grow, we must make child care more accessible and affordable.”

One policy solution that generated interest was a newly introduced pilot program supported by Labs and Hogan. The initiative would allow high school students enrolled in technical education programs to earn early childhood education credentials before graduation, giving them a direct path into the workforce at no cost to the student.

“Today’s testimony shows that we need to make it easier for these providers to do what they do best—care for and educate young children,” said Hogan. “For too long, we’ve allowed a complex and often contradictory set of rules to stifle growth and increase the burden on young families. I look forward to continuing the conversation about how to bring real reform.”

In addition to challenges at the provider level, testifiers emphasized the broader economic implications. A lack of accessible child care limits parental workforce participation and leads to billions of dollars in lost productivity across Pennsylvania.

Rep. Kate Klunk, who chairs the House Children and Youth Committee, stressed that the need for change is immediate. “This hearing, as well as a previous one on the issue, emphasizes the need to address burdensome, outdated regulations that are hampering our child care providers,” she said. “These rules are standing in the way of success and passing along unnecessary costs to parents. The testimony we heard today is invaluable.”

With families and providers in urgent need of support, lawmakers say the hearing was another step toward meaningful reforms designed to strengthen Pennsylvania’s child care infrastructure. As Marcell noted, the goal moving forward is clear: “We must take action to support families, grow the workforce, and ensure every child has access to quality care.”