Ohio economists say the new child care program will improve outcomes

A majority of economists surveyed recently said that a new child care assistance program will help Ohio kids later in life.

In September, Republican Gov. Mike DeWine announced the launch of the $10 million Child Care Cred Program, which became available to families making between 200% and 400% of the federal poverty guidelines. For a family of three, that’s $53,300 to $106,600 a year.

For people who earn less than that, employees cover 40% of child care costs, employers cover 40% and the state covers the remainder.

“The new Child Care Cred Program is designed to help Ohio’s families get access to child care,” DeWine said in a release. “And, when parents have quality childcare, Ohio’s employers have productive employees who are not worried about their kids during work. It is a win for Ohio’s working families and for businesses.”

Most economists surveyed by Scioto Analysis about the program said it would specifically benefit children’s educational outcomes in Ohio, with 13 saying it would help, three saying it would not, and another three saying they were uncertain.

David Brasington of the University of Cincinnati, one of the economists who said the program would help, said the improved school performance would result from high-quality professional child care.

“There is pretty strong evidence that attending a quality daycare causes increased school performance, especially initially, and wages later in life,” he wrote in the comment section of the survey.

However, Brasington’s colleague at the same university, Michael Jones, disagreed with the statement, suggesting that children benefit from their mothers spending more time with them.

“A growing body of research shows that mothers who spend more time at home with their young children, rather than rushing back to work, see better outcomes for both themselves and their children,” he wrote. “Ohio shouldn’t be creating incentives that encourage parents to spend less time with their children.”

Curtis Reynolds of Kent State University, one of the economists who was uncertain whether the program would benefit kids, cited the small amount the state budgeted for it — $10 million.

“I think that quality child care would improve educational outcomes, but I am skeptical of this particular program,” he wrote. “It is a low amount of funding, it is not clear how many firms will participate and it does not last long. Could be an interesting ‘pilot’ but would need to be expanded to see effects.”

Ohio lawmakers previously tried to support students in the Buckeye State by helping struggling students, announcing education plans and fighting for school choice vouchers.

Republican gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy also recently proposed a controversial education policy, prompting his Democratic opponent, Amy Acton, to criticize him in hopes of winning over more potential voters in 2026.

The news also came after a finding that Ohio had become one of the most popular states for homeschooling in recent years.