Oklahoma offers free child care to boost early education workforce
PROGRAM. KYLIE. THE WORKFORCE BEHIND THE WORKFORCE IS THE CHILD CARE INDUSTRY. BUT HERE IN OKLAHOMA, FOR EVERY THREE KIDS, THERE’S ONLY ONE AVAILABLE SPOT AT A LICENSED CHILD CARE FACILITY. STATE LAWMAKERS HOPE THIS NEW INCENTIVE PROGRAM CHANGES THOSE ODDS TO COMBAT THE STATE’S SHRINKING NUMBER OF CHILD CARE FACILITIES. OKLAHOMA IS NOW OFFERING FREE CHILD CARE FOR THOSE WORKING IN THE CHILD INDUSTRY. THE GOAL OF THE PROGRAM IS TO REALLY INCENTIVIZE THOSE TEACHERS WHO ARE WANTING TO WORK IN LICENSED CHILD CARE PROGRAMS, BUT CAN’T BECAUSE THEY HAVE CHILDREN OF THEIR OWN, AND THE COST OF CHILD CARE IS TOO HIGH TO JUSTIFY THEM REMAINING IN THE WORKFORCE WHEN THEY HAVE AN AVERAGE OF $11.87 AN HOUR, IT’S VERY HARD TO AFFORD CHILD CARE, WHICH FOR THEM MIGHT BE ANYWHERE ACROSS THE STATE BETWEEN 1000 AND $1,600 A MONTH. THE INCENTIVE IS CALLED THE OKLAHOMA STRONG START PROGRAM, AND IT LAUNCHED JUST THIS WEEK. TO QUALIFY, YOU MUST WORK AT A LICENSED CHILD CARE FACILITY AT LEAST 20 HOURS A WEEK, HAVE APPLIED FOR THE DHS SUBSIDY BEFORE, AND MEET ONE OF THESE INCOME REQUIREMENTS $120,000 OR LESS FOR A TWO PARENT HOUSEHOLD, $60,000 OR LESS FOR A SINGLE PARENT HOUSEHOLD, OR ALREADY HAVE A CHILD ENROLLED IN A DHS SUBSIDY. CHILD CARE FACILITY. SO IF THEY CURRENTLY PARTICIPATE IN DHS SUBSIDY, BUT THEY HAVE A CO-PAYMENT, WE WILL WAIVE THAT CO-PAYMENT FOR THEM. IF THEY ARE SLIGHTLY ABOVE THAT INCOME LEVEL AND SO THEY DON’T QUALIFY RIGHT NOW FOR TRADITIONAL DHS SUBSIDY, WE ARE MAKING THEM ELIGIBLE FOR THIS PILOT PROGRAM. REPRESENTATIVE SUZANNE SCHREIBER HELPED CHAMPION HOUSE BILL 2778. SHE SAYS WITHOUT A STRONG CHILD CARE INDUSTRY, OKLAHOMA’S ECONOMY CAN’T GROW. THE CHILD CARE INDUSTRY IS A CRITICAL PART OF OUR ECONOMY, AND EMPLOYERS RELY ON IT. FAMILIES RELY ON OUR ECONOMY RELIES ON IT BEING STRONG. NOW, SINCE STRONG START LAUNCHED THIS WEEK, 300 PROVIDERS ACROSS OKLAHOMA HAVE ALREADY ENROLLED IN THIS PROGRAM. TO LEARN MORE, YOU CAN FOLLOW THIS STORY O
Oklahoma offers free child care to boost early education workforce
Oklahoma has launched a new initiative providing free child care to employees in the child care industry to address the state’s shortage of licensed child care facilities.
Updated: 6:22 PM CDT Aug 29, 2025
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Oklahoma is addressing its child care shortage by offering free childcare to industry employees through the newly launched Oklahoma Strong Start Program, aiming to attract more early educators.>> Download the KOCO 5 app | Subscribe to KOCO 5’s YouTube channel”The goal of the program is to incentivize teachers who want to work in a licensed child care program but can’t because they have children of their own and the cost of child care is too high to justify them remaining in the workforce,” said Carrie Williams, executive director of the Oklahoma Partnership for School Readiness.State Rep. Suzanne Schreiber, who helped champion House Bill 2778, highlighted the financial challenges faced by childcare workers. “When they have an average of $11.87 an hour, it’s very hard for them to afford childcare, which for them might be anywhere across the state between $1,000-$1,600 a month,” she said.The Oklahoma Strong Start Program, launched this week, offers free child care to employees who work at a licensed childcare facility for at least 20 hours a week, have applied for the DHS subsidy before, and meet specific income requirements. These include earning $120,000 or less for a two-parent household, $60,000 or less for a single-parent household, or already having a child enrolled in a DHS subsidy child care facility.”So, if they currently participate in DHS subsidy but they have a copayment, we will waive that copayment for them. If they are slightly above that income level and so they don’t qualify right now for traditional DHS subsidy, we are making them eligible for this pilot program,” Williams said.Schreiber emphasized the importance of a robust childcare industry. Get the latest news stories of interest by clicking here.”The child care industry is an important part of our economy. Employers rely on it, families rely on it, our economy relies on it being strong,” she said.Since the launch of the Strong Start program, 300 providers across Oklahoma have already enrolled.You can find more information about the program by clicking here.Top HeadlinesTrump cancels Kamala Harris’ Secret Service detail that was extended by undisclosed Biden orderLabor Day traffic fatalities projected to drop 7%. Here’s whyMotorcyclist taken to hospital after multi-vehicle crash in southeast Oklahoma CityOklahoma man found guilty in fatal Rose State College shootingParents of students killed in Minneapolis church shooting share emotional pleas
Oklahoma is addressing its child care shortage by offering free childcare to industry employees through the newly launched Oklahoma Strong Start Program, aiming to attract more early educators.
>> Download the KOCO 5 app | Subscribe to KOCO 5’s YouTube channel
“The goal of the program is to incentivize teachers who want to work in a licensed child care program but can’t because they have children of their own and the cost of child care is too high to justify them remaining in the workforce,” said Carrie Williams, executive director of the Oklahoma Partnership for School Readiness.
State Rep. Suzanne Schreiber, who helped champion House Bill 2778, highlighted the financial challenges faced by childcare workers.
“When they have an average of $11.87 an hour, it’s very hard for them to afford childcare, which for them might be anywhere across the state between $1,000-$1,600 a month,” she said.
The Oklahoma Strong Start Program, launched this week, offers free child care to employees who work at a licensed childcare facility for at least 20 hours a week, have applied for the DHS subsidy before, and meet specific income requirements.
These include earning $120,000 or less for a two-parent household, $60,000 or less for a single-parent household, or already having a child enrolled in a DHS subsidy child care facility.
“So, if they currently participate in DHS subsidy but they have a copayment, we will waive that copayment for them. If they are slightly above that income level and so they don’t qualify right now for traditional DHS subsidy, we are making them eligible for this pilot program,” Williams said.
Schreiber emphasized the importance of a robust childcare industry.
Get the latest news stories of interest by clicking here.
“The child care industry is an important part of our economy. Employers rely on it, families rely on it, our economy relies on it being strong,” she said.
Since the launch of the Strong Start program, 300 providers across Oklahoma have already enrolled.
You can find more information about the program by clicking here.
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