Indiana – The Indiana Chamber recently hosted its first-ever Childcare Summit, gathering a diverse group of stakeholders to explore solutions to challenges facing early childhood education across the state. The daylong event brought together business owners, childcare providers, policymakers, and thought leaders, highlighting the urgency of ensuring sustainable, affordable, and high-quality childcare for families while supporting workforce needs.
The summit opened with a session led by Adam Alson, director of the Office of Early Childhood and Out-of-School Learning. Alson provided attendees with a detailed overview of current Childcare and Development Fund (CCDF) voucher allocations, staffing challenges, contract reductions, and emerging issues on the horizon. His presentation set the stage for the day, helping participants understand the operational and financial pressures that many providers face.
Attendees also heard from Early Learning Indiana, which shared insights on statewide early learning trends, while Brittany Scott from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and Linda Smith from the Buffett Early Childhood Institute presented national models and best practices in childcare. Their sessions offered participants a broader perspective on innovative strategies that could be adapted to Indiana’s unique needs, emphasizing the potential of cross-sector collaboration to improve outcomes for children and families.
A highlight of the summit was a robust panel discussion featuring Tyler Stock of the Welborn Baptist Foundation, Sherry Grate from Ambassador Enterprises, Jennifer Myers of Monroe Smart Start, Justin Armstrong of AYS, and Dr. Rita Shourds of Align Southern Indiana. Panelists shared real-world regional solutions, showcasing how different communities across Indiana are addressing staffing shortages, operational hurdles, and accessibility challenges. The discussion underscored the importance of localized approaches that can be scaled or replicated statewide.
Beyond presentations, attendees engaged in brainstorming and strategy sessions to identify common barriers and opportunities in the childcare sector. Several themes emerged: liability insurance may be preventing quality providers from expanding, existing state tax credits are not widely used, and there is interest in establishing scholarship-granting organization-like accounts to fund childcare scholarships at accredited facilities. The Chamber emphasized that it will work closely with legislators to craft policies that support safe, sustainable, and affordable childcare solutions.
The Chamber also plans to engage with employers to increase awareness of existing incentives. Currently, eligible employers can claim 50% of their qualified childcare expenditures – up to $100,000 per year, with the total statewide credit pool capped at $2.5 million annually. Chamber officials noted that understanding and addressing barriers to utilization could help more families and businesses benefit from these programs.
Regulatory reforms were another key focus at the summit. House Enrolled Act 1253, which became effective on July 1, simplifies licensing and expands flexibility for providers. Multi-site childcare providers can now operate under a single license, reducing administrative burden while still requiring separate health and safety inspections for each location. School-based programs are allowed to serve all children within a school corporation, not just students’ children or staff, broadening access. The law also extends waivers or variances for providers from two to three years, introduces updated health and training requirements—including pediatric CPR and first aid for new staff within 90 days—and adjusts staff-to-child ratios for mixed-age classrooms once final rules are adopted. The Chamber supported these measures, noting they provide critical flexibility while maintaining high safety and quality standards.
As the first Childcare Summit concluded, participants emphasized the importance of continued collaboration between business leaders, policymakers, and childcare providers. By combining national best practices with local innovation and legislative support, stakeholders aim to create a more resilient and accessible childcare system for Indiana.
The Indiana Chamber’s initiative signals a renewed focus on childcare as both an economic and social priority. With momentum building from this inaugural summit, officials hope these discussions will translate into practical solutions that strengthen families, support working parents, and ensure every child in Indiana has access to quality early learning experiences.
