What Makes Quality Child Care? Alberta Parents Share Their Views

Official title: Early learning and child care engagement

Closed Policy & Studies Economy & Jobs Education
Alberta asked parents what quality child care looks like to them. The province is shifting to $10-a-day daycare by 2025-26, moving from parent-funded to government-funded care. This survey gathered input on what programs and services families expect from childcare operators.

Why This Matters

Have young kids or planning to? This directly affects what you'll pay for daycare and what quality you can expect. Alberta's shift to $10-a-day care is one of the biggest changes to family costs in years. Parents' feedback shaped how this new system will work.

What Could Change

Alberta is transforming child care from parent-funded to government-funded, with fees dropping to an average of $10 per day by 2025-26. The feedback collected will shape quality standards and expectations for childcare operators across the province.

Key Issues

  • How do parents define quality child care?
  • What programs and services should childcare operators provide?
  • What factors influence parents' childcare choices?

What Happened

Albertans shared feedback through an online survey available in 8 languages between January 15 and February 11, 2024. The feedback helped inform the ongoing transformation of Alberta's Early Learning and Child Care system from parent-funded to government-funded.