New Report Reveals Urgent Need for Investment in Early Childhood Education Across Four Southern Indiana Counties
Floyds Knobs, IN – A comprehensive new study commissioned by Align Southern Indiana, as part of the Lilly Endowment’s GIFT VIII initiative, has revealed significant gaps in access, affordability, and quality of early childhood education in Clark, Floyd, Scott, and Washington counties.
The 2025 “State of Early Childhood Education” report presents a sobering snapshot of early care and learning in the region:
All four counties scored below 60 on the Early Learning Access Index, which indicates inadequate access to high-quality early childhood programs. Scott County scored the lowest at 50.0, while Floyd County scored highest at 55.6.
Only 33.8% to 48.7% of childcare slots in the region meet high-quality standards, depending on the county.
Nearly half (42%) of residents in the four counties live in poverty, with many families unable to afford the average annual cost of childcare, which ranges from $4,464 in Washington County to over $8,000 in Clark County.
Clark County alone has over 9,000 children under age 5, with 10% of them living in poverty – yet just 20.9% of those in childcare are enrolled in high-quality programs.
"These findings reinforce what many of us working with families and providers already know – that the demand for affordable, high-quality childcare far exceeds current availability," said Dr. Rita Shourds, President and CEO of Align Southern Indiana. "The consequences affect not only young learners but also our region’s workforce and economic future."
Despite these challenges, the report also highlights a number of promising initiatives:
Building Blocks’ Regional Training Center (RTC) model is supporting providers in delivering curriculum-based, developmentally appropriate care.
Community partnerships, including support from United Way and county community foundations, are actively investing in quality and capacity building.
According to the report, early efforts are already yielding measurable results. Between fall 2023 and spring 2024, the number of children scoring in the average to above average range for academic and cognitive development increased from 48.6% to 77.1%.
Align Southern Indiana is calling on policymakers, businesses, and community leaders to work together to expand and sustain these initiatives. “We know what works. Now it’s a matter of scale, investment, and commitment.”
The full State of Early Childhood Education Report is now available: Click Here
