Supporting early learning isn’t just a nice thing to do for families—it’s how we keep Bartholomew County open for business.
The Bartholomew County Early Learning Coalition works every day to advocate for local providers, families, and resources. We cannot do it alone. You don’t have to pack a school lunch tomorrow morning to invest in the strength, safety, and future of the community we all share.
Our Local Economy
When licensed care gets too expensive or spots disappear, parents are forced to reduce hours or leave their jobs entirely. Local businesses face severe staff turnover and essential positions in healthcare, manufacturing, and retail go completely unfilled.
Our Local Schools
School doesn’t start at kindergarten. When children miss out on structured early learning, they enter public classrooms significantly behind in basic social-emotional skills. This puts an immense strain on overextended teachers and impacts every child in the classroom.
Our Neighborhoods
While headlines make it sound like childcare funding is up, recent policy updates actually restricted voucher eligibility for local working families. When quality care becomes impossible to find or afford, desperate parents are forced to choose unsafe, unregulated care right in our neighborhoods.
What’s Happening in Bartholomew County?
You might not see it everyday, but Bartholomew County and the surrounding area is facing a quiet crisis.
While headlines often make it sound like things are handled, the actual data shows a shifting reality of restricted funding, disappearing waitlists, and a K-12 system feeling the strain.
Parents are being forced to choose work or the safety and care of their children. Childcare providers are facing tough decisions about their businesses. Here is a look at the real numbers defining the state of childcare and early learning in our community right now.
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE REALITY OF EARLY CHILDHOOD CARE
Download our digital guide to learn more about misperceptions around early learning and childcare and the impact on our neighbors.
Early Learning Resources for All
If you don’t have young children it is easy to assume the local childcare shortage doesn’t affect your daily life. Unfortunately early learning isn’t an isolated parenting issue. It’s a vital community utility that impacts our workforce, our classrooms, and our neighborhoods and solving community issues begins with everyone working together.
For Families
Navigating early childhood care can feel overwhelming, but you don’t have to figure it out alone. Access resources to find licensed local programs, tips for selecting a child care program, and see if your family qualifies for financial aid.
For Providers
Running a high-quality early learning program requires constant navigation of complex state rules and business realities. Explore our specialized tools, training resources, and hiring support designed to help your facility or home-based program stay sustainable and thrive.
For Employers
When your employees have stable, reliable childcare, your business sees better retention, fewer call-outs, and a stronger bottom line. Check out our employer resources to discover practical ways your business can support working parents and secure your talent pool.
For Community Members
You don’t need to have young children to care about the success of our local early learning systems. Explore our community impact guides to learn how you can advocate for local classrooms, protect our public school teachers, and support local scholarship funds.
Need Additional Support?
The Bartholomew County Early Learning Coalition is focused on ensuring affordable, high-quality childcare is available to all families by supporting providers, employers, and families through the challenges of the childcare crisis.
For more information or additional resources, contact Christine Waters, Early Learning Manager, by email.
“Families are paying a substantial amount, yet systemic funding gaps are squeezing high-quality programs off the map. When local scholarships step in to bridge the payment gap, it keeps children safely enrolled, parents at work, and professional providers operational.”
-Bartholomew County Early Learning Provider
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