Article Summary –
Montana schools are using in-school daycare centers to recruit and retain teachers amidst a shortage of quality childcare and qualified teachers. Dutton-Brady Public Schools, a rural district that had previously struggled to fill teaching positions, has leveraged their on-site daycare facility, the Little Diamondbacks Daycare, to attract and retain teachers. However, critics argue these initiatives are short-term solutions and do not address the root causes of teacher shortages such as low wages and decreased public perceptions about the profession.
Teacher Shortages and Childcare Crises Combatted with In-School Daycare
In Montana, a state with less than 8,000 teachers, Dutton-Brady Public Schools filled its three teaching vacancies thanks to a unique approach – the Little Diamondbacks Daycare, located inside the district’s school. While 79% of U.S. schools struggle to fill teaching positions and half of Americans live in child care deserts, in-school daycare is being utilized from Maine to Oklahoma.
Jessica Toner, a new teacher at Dutton-Brady, had the opportunity to work at higher-paying schools near her home in Great Falls but couldn’t afford or find quality daycare. After hearing about the opening at Dutton-Brady and their subsidized daycare, she jumped at the opportunity. Quality child care is an acute issue in rural areas like Montana, where seven of the ten states with the highest rates of residents living in childcare deserts are located.
In-school daycare can be beneficial for staff and communities alike. However, critics argue that it doesn’t address root causes of shortages, such as low wages and decreased perceptions of teaching prestige. They suggest that rather than subsidizing student loans, housing, or child care, it may be more effective to raise teacher pay. Despite this, many districts are opting for faster solutions like in-school daycare to resolve immediate staffing issues.
In Montana, starting teacher salaries rank 51st in the nation. With an average starting salary of only $36,480, Montana lags behind neighboring states. While experts argue for major policy changes and shifts in public perceptions, school districts continue to innovate, grappling with funding and providing care for the community. As a result, in-school daycare is not just beneficial for the school but also the community, serving non-staff members who sometimes drive 40 miles for quality daycare.
Experts argue for federally supported child-care subsidies, similar to those in President Joe Biden’s Build Back Better plan. But for now, rural administrators, teachers, and parents continue to keep their schools open and kids cared for, all while seeking new sources of funding for their daycare centers. They can’t afford to wait for policymakers to decide their fate.
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