York Day Early Learning Rises to Answer a Vital Community Need
Conversations about childcare anywhere in the United States typically include these top three issues: accessibility, affordability, and quality. Answers to these issues don’t come easily and are often held up due to a lack of funding and the level of coordination required. York Day Early Learning (YDEL) is determined to find ways to close these gaps to better support working families in York.
“Every early learning center is facing demand to cover more hours and recruit talented professionals to fill these roles,” shares YDEL Executive Director Sara Bradley. “Our margins are so thin, and we often rely on the support of donations, making it extremely challenging to pay our team a living wage.”
In York County, both adults in a two-income family with two children need to make $29.79 an hour to earn a living wage. York’s average pay for childcare workers is $15.07.
Sara Bradley’s team has found a way to increase teachers’ compensation while also addressing another pressing community need: childcare coverage during overnight shifts in York’s heavy manufacturing community. Our Twilight Care program will operate from 7:30 pm to 6:30 am, providing a safe, structured, and consistent environment for children while their parents work.
“This first year, we’ll gather data on the families who use this service and the companies where they work,” Bradley explains. “We plan to work with these companies to show the improved attendance and performance of their team with this additional support and find ways to sustain the program long-term.”
Launching this ambitious pilot was made possible thanks to numerous community advocates, including the York County Commissioners' office. “York County is proud to support innovative, family-centered solutions that meet the evolving needs of our workforce – including those who are in jobs needed round-the-clock, such as first responders, manufacturing, logistics, and healthcare,” said York County President Commissioner Julie Wheeler. “With this program, York Day is helping to keep York County running by ensuring working families have access to safe, high-quality, and equitable early learning – day or night.”
The York County Economic Alliance, a longtime early education and quality childcare advocate, also played a key role. "We applaud York Day Early Learning’s new innovative approach to childcare,” shares YCEA President and CEO, Kevin Schreiber. “Approximately 17% of York County’s workforce works non-traditional hours, and access to safe, high-quality overnight care is vital to workforce stability and economic resilience. According to the Pennsylvania Early Learning Investment Commission, gaps in Pennsylvania’s childcare system cost the Commonwealth an estimated $6.65 billion annually, resulting from lost earnings, reduced productivity, and diminished tax revenue. This initiative addresses a critical need for working families and contributes to closing that economic gap, supporting stronger families, businesses, and communities across York County."
Community Connections for Children, which serves as the Early Learning Resource Center, provides resource and referral services and helps low-income working families pay for ECE. York Day’s innovative approach will meet the needs of families and employers and provide support to the ECE workforce. Approximately 20% of ECE educators rely on public assistance to offset their low wages. It’s a win-win strategy, meeting the needs of both families and the ECE workforce, that we are thrilled to support, said Christy Renjilian, CCC Executive Director.
Work is currently underway to launch the program in January 2026. Families interested in getting on a waiting list and childcare professionals interested in employment opportunities can find details on York Day’s website at www.yorkday.org