Listening
Unlocking Word Meanings
Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.
- lifeline / ˈlaɪfˌlaɪn / (n.) – something that gives help or support in a very difficult situation
Example:When the factory closed, government support became a lifeline for many workers who lost their jobs.
- on the margins / ɒn ðə ˈmɑr dʒɪnz / (idiom) – in a position of least importance, support, or power in a group or society
Example:In our city, support for homeless people is often on the margins, even though the need is very high.
- vex / vɛks / (v.) – to worry, upset, or annoy someone
Example:Problems, like high prices and new tax rules, vex many business owners in the city.
- abate / əˈbeɪt / (v.) – to become less strong, serious, or intense
Example:The strong winds finally abated, and the fishermen were able to return to shore.
- prohibitively / proʊˈhɪb ə t̬ɪv li / (adv.) – in a way that makes something impossible or very difficult to do because it is too much or expensive
Example:The tuition fees at that private university are prohibitively high, so only a few students can afford to study there.
Article
Read the text below.
For parents who need to work but can’t afford the steep cost of child care, federally funded scholarships can be a lifeline. Delivered through state child care assistance programs, the scholarships can mean the difference between a parent working full time—or not at all.
But qualified families are increasingly being turned away, thanks to the rising costs of child care and the end of pandemic-era funds, and some families that had scholarships have seen them end. In three states—Arizona, Colorado and Texas—parents who apply face long waitlists. Other states have increased copayments for parents or have said they will serve fewer children.
In March, the Trump administration laid off some employees who helped states implement child care assistance. It’s left advocates worried about the future of federal child care programs.
“What it means is that ultimately child care will become less safe, it’s going to become more expensive, and it’s going to become harder to find,” said Ruth Friedman, who was the director of the Office of Child Care under former President Joe Biden.
In Colorado, a dozen counties stopped accepting new applications for the state’s child care assistance program because they ran out of money, The Colorado Sun reported.
For states trying to maintain child care assistance scholarships, the costs of running the programs have risen. Because many child care providers operate on the margins, the Biden administration increased the amount they receive when they take scholarship students.
It’s all evidence that the problems that vex the child care industry have not necessarily abated with the pandemic, said Karen Schulman, senior director of child care policy at the National Women’s Law Center.
“The crisis was going on long before COVID,” Schulman said, citing the unaffordability of care for many families, along with the low pay of the child care workforce.
Even as providers struggle to make a profit, child care is prohibitively expensive for many families. In a study of 2022 child care prices, the Labor Department found the median cost of care for an infant in a center was more than $15,600 in large counties—higher than the median rent in many places.
This article was provided by The Associated Press.
Viewpoint Discussion
Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.
Discussion A
- Some parents can’t work full-time because they can’t afford child care. In your opinion, how does a lack of child care affect families (ex. less income, more stress)? What kind of support do you think working parents need most? Discuss.
- Some parents must choose between working and staying home with their children. What do you think are the pros and cons of staying home with your kids rather than working and vice versa? Which do you think is easier to do? Why? Discuss.
Discussion B
- Some government offices that support child care programs have cut staff. Do you think child care should be treated as a basic service, like schools or hospitals? Why do you say so? What do you think happens when governments stop supporting services like child care? Discuss.
- Experts say that child care might become less safe due to funding cuts and fewer staff. What do you think makes a child care center safe and good? Would you send a child to a cheaper center if it didn’t seem safe? Why or why not? Discuss.
