The same data set said that there are 1,391 licensed child care providers with 128 new provider applications under review and 44,941 available slots in West Virginia.

Since the system’s launch, DESE has struggled to pay child care subsidies to providers in a timely manner, forcing some to shut their doors.

The Texas Child Care Provider Expansion Initiative, launched in August 2022, offers a promising model for encouraging small businesses to engage in child care partnerships.

Each change, she said, is designed to help more families afford child care and supply child care providers with the money they need to run quality programs.

In its original form, HB243 would have eliminated all requirements that limit the number of young children an early educator can care for, leaving it up to individual providers.

Many families that receive government assistance for child care still pay a lot out-of-pocket. A new Biden administration rule will lower those costs and improve payments to day care providers.