Raising Colorado | Untold Costs of our Broken Child Care System

May 20, 2026 | Journalism

CPR | In a multi-part series, CPR News examines how families and the state are Raising Colorado within a child care system many say is broken. CPR set out to find out what happens when parents who are needed in Colorado’s workforce can’t find reliable care.

Jenny Brundin | CPR News

The average cost of childcare for one infant in Colorado is $21,000 a year. Nearly 14,000 children across the state are on waitlists for care. One in five parents reported being fired due to child care disruptions.

The system in place is not working for many parents and providers.

As part of a new series, Colorado Public Radio’s news team is examining how families are navigating the issues facing Colorado’s child care system.

They’ve talked to parents who struggle daily and providers navigating an underfunded, overcrowded and oftentimes unaffordable system. Now, tightened budgets and frozen subsidies are making an already difficult situation worse. When child care falls through, the consequences can come at the cost of some parents’ jobs and Colorado’s larger workforce.

Ultimately, the series will explore who ultimately pays the price when Colorado’s child care system isn’t working?

Explore the Series