New parents often face sticker shock when confronted with the steep cost of child care. That's  especially true here in the District, where for working parents who don't qualify for subsidies, child care often costs as much as college tuition--and the cost is rising.  

A new report released yesterday by the National Association of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies (NACCRRA) found that in many states, including D.C., the annual cost of child care actually exceeds the cost of sending a child to college. Many expectant and new parents are blissfully ignorant of this fact until they cannot put off the decision any longer--mom needs to return to work, so they must scramble to find a place for their dear son or daughter. (All of a sudden, "dear" takes on a whole new meaning.)

Consider these facts:

• Over the past decade, across the country, the cost of child care had increased twice as fast as the median income of families with children (NACCRRA).
• In every U.S. region, the average center-based child care fees for an infant exceeded the average annual amount that families spent on food. (NACCRRA)
• The federal government recommends that families spend no more than 10% of their incomes on child care. Families in the District often spend upwards 25% of their monthly family expenses on child care. (Washington Area Women's Foundation)
• In D.C., average annual fees for full-time infant care costs $11,477, which is 41% of the median income for a single parent (female headed) family with children under 18. (NACCRRA)

Forget about child care for twins--at double the tuition, it is almost too hard to contemplate the costs for many parents of multiples. It just doesn't pay to go back to work. I would think that once working parents become aware of the cost of child care, it's like birth control. Who can afford two in this city?

College-savings plans and the standard investment advice given to parents gives the impression that you have at least 18 years to save up. But increasingly, new parents--still far from the peak of their earning potential--must pony up upwards of $1,200 a month to pay for child care right away. Why don't they tell you this in health class? Or in college?

For low-income parents who qualify for free or subsidized care, the shock is finding out that there is no place to send their child.

Government reimbursements to child care centers simply do not add up to the cost of providing quality care. Too often, they are too little, too late. The shortfall quickly becomes a crippling deficit for many community-based centers, making it difficult for them to provide the quality care that all children deserve. Parents in Wards 7 and 8, in particular, face long waiting lists to get a spot for their child at a licensed center. Meanwhile, mom can't go back to work or to school to gain more training. And we know that low-income children who do not have access to quality early care and early education often cannot catch up with their peers once they start school. It's a vicious cycle that often keeps struggling families in poverty for generations.  

The fact is, quality child care is expensive, whether it's parents or taxpayers who must bear the cost. Ignoring this fact doesn't get us anywhere. We need to make it a priority to support quality early care and early education for all children--or we will pay a much higher price down the road.