Between July 2024 and March 2025, Ohio lost programs at a rate of 2.8 per month. From February to April 2026, that rate climbed to 46.5 per month — a 16.5x acceleration. At the current rate and absent policy intervention, Ohio could lose over 560 programs by the end of 2026.
| Period | Timeframe | Rate | vs. Baseline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baseline | Jul 2024 – Mar 2025 | 2.8/month | — |
| Phase 2 | Mar 2025 – Feb 2026 | 14.0/month | 5.0x faster |
| Phase 3 (Current) | Feb – Apr 2026 | 46.5/month | 16.5x faster |
| Snapshot Date | Total | Change | Cumulative Loss | Days Since Prior | Daily Rate |
|---|
All data is sourced from the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS) licensed program registry, a publicly available database of licensed childcare providers. This tracker includes snapshots taken between July 10, 2024 and the latest update. Programs classified as day camps ("Registered Day Camp" or "Approved Day Camp") are excluded for seasonal consistency. Program type names were standardized across snapshots where ODJFS renamed categories (e.g. "Ohio Department of Education Licensed Preschool" is counted together with "Licensed School-Based Preschool"). Rates are calculated using calendar days between snapshots. County and program-type breakdowns reflect the net change between the first and latest snapshots. A small number of records with no county assignment appear as "UNKNOWN" and are included in statewide totals but excluded from county-level analysis.
The timeline annotation on November 2, 2025 marks the effective date of ODJFS hour authorization changes that altered publicly funded childcare (PFCC) reimbursement categories, significantly reducing funding to participating centers and family child care homes. This policy change is widely cited by Ohio providers as a primary driver of the accelerating closure rate.
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