Becoming a teen parent is one of the highest risk factors for dropping out of high school. Baltimore City has a high school dropout rate of 17.8% — the highest in Maryland, according to the Maryland State Department of Education. In addition, over half (56.26%) of Baltimore’s households with children are led by a single parent, according to an analysis of recent U.S. Federal Reserve data by Trading Economics.
For parents who dropped out as teens but want a second chance to earn their high school diploma as adults, child care can be the number one barrier to getting ahead. Without a spouse or other family members to watch the kids, it’s difficult to hold down a job or go to school — and even harder to do both.
Baltimore is hardly alone as a home to single parents. Maryland ranks seventh among states with the highest percentage of households led by a single mother with children under age 18 living in the household, at 5.12% (with only Mississippi, Georgia, Louisiana, Texas, Alabama, and South Carolina ranking higher), according to Statista.
In fact, the United States leads the world in single-parent households. Nearly a quarter (23%) of children in the U.S. live in a single-parent household, according to the Pew Research Center, which is “more than three times the share of children around the world who do so (7%).”
For single parents struggling to move forward with their lives, affordable child care is essential. That’s why when Goodwill Industries of the Chesapeake opened its Excel Center in downtown Baltimore, it made free child care part of the program. This is a big deal as lack of childcare serves as the main barrier faced by single parents who are trying to better themselves and make a home for their children.
Childcare costs in Maryland are the sixth highest in the U.S., according to a 2023 survey by United Way of the National Capital Area. The survey found that child care in this state costs an average of $15,403 a year, which is 34% above the national annual average of $11,471.
The reality for some students who have joined the Excel Center in pursuit of a high school diploma is that they have more than one child, making the cost of care prohibitive at this stage of their lives. The on-site childcare facility means parents can drop off their children before classes begin, check on them between classes, and go home together. The childcare center offers quality care, meals, snacks, playtime, and interaction with other children. So, while their parents are learning the coursework necessary to graduate, their children are learning life skills like socialization, sharing, teamwork, and more.
By making child care free, Goodwill Industries of the Chesapeake removed a major barrier for Baltimore adults seeking to finish their education. The Goodwill Excel Center shows that with the right support, motivated adult learners can successfully complete their education while navigating the responsibilities of parenthood.
