Idaho
Policy Strategies & Innovations Link copied!
| Innovation Name | Innovation Type | Innovation Subtype | Features at a Glance | Strategy Summary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Child Care Expansion Grants | Expansion | Physical Space and Facilities | One-time funding |
In 2022, the Idaho Legislature approved $15 million in one-time American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding for grants to create more seats in high-quality child care facilities and offset start-up costs for child care businesses and providers that want to expand. An additional $15M is requested in the FY24 budget for the WDC to continue funding the expansion of child care. The Workforce Development Council (WDC) administers the grants to the organizations administering child care. The program permits grant recipients to use the funds for needs such as facility updates, staffing, and/or renovation of buildings; any project that exceeds $1 million in capital expenditures requires additional written justification under the ARPA program. The return on investment is measured by the total number of child care seats available two years after the contract’s end date. Learn More: Idaho's Child Care Expansion GrantsSources: |
Demographic Link copied!
State population
1,939,033 Source U.S. Census, 2022
Rural %
30.8% Source U.S. Census, 2020
Urban %
69.2% Source U.S. Census, 2020
Number of children age 0-4
114,324 Source KIDS COUNT, 2021
Poverty levels – children 0-8 below 200% poverty
41% Source KIDS COUNT, 2021
Median family income among households with children
$80,600.00 Source KIDS COUNT, 2021
Unemployment rate
2.9% Source U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, December 2022
Unemployment rate of parents
3% Source KIDS COUNT, 2021
Children under age 6 with all available parents in the labor force
56% Source KIDS COUNT, 2021
Children living in households with a high housing cost burden
22% Source KIDS COUNT, 2021
Political Landscape Link copied!
| Year | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Governor | R | R | R | R | R |
| House | R | R | R | R | R |
| Senate | R | R | R | R | R |
Early Childhood Education Programs Link copied!
Public pre-K program name
N/A Source: NIEER 2023
Universal or targeted pre-K policy
N/A Source: NIEER 2023
Percent of 3-Year-Old Children Enrolled in Public Early Childhood Education Programs Source: NIEER 2023
Programs
- 3-year-old children enrolled in state-funded public pre-K (0%)
- 3-year-old children enrolled in Head Start (5%)
- Other/none (95%)
Percent of 4-Year-Old Children Enrolled in Public Early Childhood Education Programs Source: NIEER 2023
Programs
- 4-year-old children enrolled in state-funded public pre-K (0%)
- 4-year-old children enrolled in Head Start (7%)
- Other/none (93%)
Workforce Link copied!
2017 – 2019 Wages (hourly) Source CSCCE 2018, 2020
Role
- Child care workers
- Preschool teachers
- Preschool or child care center directors
Funding Sources Link copied!
Funding acronyms: CCDBG: Child Care and Development Block Grant; CARES Act: Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act; CRRSE Act: Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations; ARPA: American Rescue Plan Act; CCDF: Child Care and Development Fund; MIECHV: Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting Program; IDEA: Individuals with Disabilities Education Act; TANF: Temporary Assistance for Needy Families
The COVID Funding Cliff
All federal COVID relief allocations, including funding authorized by the CARES, CRRSE, and ARPA bills, must be fully spent by September 2024. An analysis from the Century Foundation shows this loss of funds could cause more than 3 million children to lose access to child care nationwide – including nearly 16,000 children in Idaho.