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Page 4 To comply with Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) guidelines, the Federal Office of Child Care requires the state of Mississippi to periodically study and capture current market rates for child care in the state. The findings are used to determine levels of financial assistance provided through the Mississippi Child Care Payment Program, housed at the Mississippi Department of Human Services (MDHS). To study 2024 market rates for child care in Mississippi, MDHS contracted with the Systems Change Lab (SCL) at the Social Science Research Center (SSRC) at Mississippi State University. In addition to a study of current tuition rates, a study of the cost of providing child care in Mississippi is required. This information also informs subsidy rates and is provided in a separate Narrow Cost Analysis report. To determine current market rates, the SCL designed and implemented a Market Rate Survey (MRS) that was administered to directors/owners of center-based child care facilities licensed with the Mississippi State Department of Health (N=1,285), with a cooperation rate of 51.4%, as well as 102 home-based child care providers. The results of the Market Rate Study are summarized below. Regarding center-based child care: • Average weekly, full-time tuition rates at the 75th percentile for center-based child care in Mississippi ranged from $167 for infant care to $130 for school-age care. When enrolled in full-time care, the rate for two-year-old and preschool children was $150 per week. The rate for toddlers was $160 per week. $167 $160 $150 $150 $130 $115 $125 $135 $145 $155 $165 $175 Infant Toddler 2-year old Preschool School age Mississippi Child Care Full-Time Weekly Market Rates, 75th Percentile EXECUTIVE SUMMARY