One of the many things I loved about my position as a Jewish early childhood director was meeting the parents who came through our doors to tour the school. For many families, choosing an early childhood center is one of the first significant decisions they make not only about their child’s education, but also about how to invest both time and resources in a particular community. When I asked how they found out about our school, the inevitable answer was word-of-mouth: a friend in their social circle, a parent they met at their local park, or even a grandparent’s subtle suggestion. 

For most families with young children, becoming parents is the entry point into the adult Jewish community and joining an early childhood center provides an almost instant community at a time when families need it most. I often reminded parents I toured that this decision is not only about finding the right school for your child, it is as much about what feels right for you as parents. Ideally, this is the beginning of a long, vibrant, and joyous participation in Jewish life. In over a decade as a director, I saw repeatedly that choosing a Jewish education for their preschooler was the most common path to Jewish community for families. Parents were our ambassadors and the most effective marketing tool schools had. 

Unfortunately, there are continual struggles with the high cost of schools and the lack of full time care. These remain significant barriers for too many when considering Jewish early childhood education. Access to Jewish education and Jewish engagement in general is expensive. And, therefore, not an inconsequential decision for families. Overall, the rising costs of child care deeply impact families everywhere. Two recent studies illustrate the very real struggle facing all families with young children. A study from the Bank of America Institute found that national child care costs are rising 1.5% times faster than overall inflation, ostensibly causing families to walk away from child care altogether. (The Many Costs of Childcare, 2025)  In addition, new data from the Stanford Center on Early Childhood shows that virtually half of all families with young children reported not being able to access basic needs including food, housing, and childcare. The study notes that this is a jump of 13% since June 2025. “Never — even during the midst of the pandemic — have we seen anything like this …” said Philip Fisher, Director of the Stanford Early Childhood Center. Increasingly, we run the risk of Jewish education becoming economically exclusive.

For families seeking  to participate in Jewish life, this combination of growing economic struggles is compounded by the fact that we are living in a post-pandemic, post October 7th world, which has completely changed the landscape of both early childhood education and Jewish communal life  – and not for the better. While word of mouth continues to bring families to our schools, it comes with serious caveats – concerns about security and safety, affordability, and convenience to name a few. In addition, families increasingly seek a community that mirrors their values and want to see their family’s constellation reflected within the school. For all of these reasons, transitional kindergarten has become  an incredibly attractive and free option many families are now choosing. With families leaving our schools earlier, we need innovative, creative, and compelling ways to keep them connected.

For years, our community took for granted the continual influx of new families through our schools. Our host organizations have relied on a continual cycle of new members, for financial stability, and a pipeline of new leaders that all came through the doors of our early childhood centers. A recent study observed that nationwide, the population of children under five has declined by 4.6% since 2020 (Economic Innovation Group, 2024). In addition, for many reasons, families are moving out of the urban areas where organized Jewish life is concentrated. “Given high levels of geographic mobility among Jews and rising housing costs, young families are often pushed to the outskirts of metropolitan areas. Even relatively short distances can become prohibitive.” (Jewish Families Today, 2025) The significant financial challenges facing our families and organizations , declining enrollment, and more families choosing non-Jewish schools will certainly have a long term impact on the landscape of Jewish life. And yet, there is little communal conversation about this crisis. Two recent articles about Jewish education asked: how do we as a community breathe new life into Jewish education? And how do we build a foundation that offers all families an entry point into our schools and our community? What will it take for communal leadership to commit to a long term investment in what we know is one of the most critical entry points into Jewish life?

In my regular conversations with early childhood educators locally and nationally, the question of the long term sustainability of our schools is now a common theme. Early childhood leaders are shouldering the primary responsibility for generating new ways of engaging and welcoming families, making Jewish education financially sustainable and accessible, while on-boarding and training staff and maintaining a school community that demonstrates the traditions and values that instill a love of Jewish life in our children. The future of our early childhood education is at a critical juncture and it is time for funders, Jewish professionals and communal organizations to use their influence to bring this to the forefront of our work. 

What is needed now is a communal conversation, one that brings together educators, funders, lay leaders, and families to ask hard questions, share ideas, and imagine new models that reflect both the realities families face and the values we hold dear. If Jewish early childhood education has long been one of our most powerful entry points into Jewish life, then its sustainability must be a shared responsibility. I invite us to approach this moment not with hesitation, but with curiosity, creativity, and a genuine commitment to working together to build pathways that ensure all families can find their place within Jewish community.