Clinton's Childcare Plan Would Be a Giveaway to the Affluent

Daycare used to be downright quaint: When I was a kid, my “daycare center” was Mr. and Mrs. Cummings’ front yard across the street from my house. I walked there after school and under their careful watch I played every dangerous game that existed until my parents got home from work. The cost of this service? My mom did their laundry.

Today, most daycare centers have been replaced by after school on-campus programs, or for-profit daycare centers. And the costs have skyrocketed: Nationally, five day per week childcare averages about $200 per week. It can be significantly pricier in metropolitan areas, or a bit cheaper in smaller towns or if you can find an in-home provider in your neighborhood. But on average, it’s about $800 per month.