Solutions with Sagamore

Sagamore Institute

Solutions with Sagamore is a public policy podcast from Sagamore Institute exploring education, workforce development, economic opportunity, and the challenges shaping Indiana, the nation, and the world. Researchers, business leaders, educators, and public officials discuss practical ways to strengthen communities, prepare people for changing careers, and improve how government serves citizens. Conversations cover the future of work, K-12 and higher education, manufacturing, technological change, national security, and civic leadership. How can schools and employers prepare the next generation for success? What will help men and boys reconnect with education, work, and community? How can cities deliver better services with limited resources? Each episode examines the ideas, research, and experiences behind potential solutions. Based in Indianapolis, Sagamore Institute brings a heartland perspective to public policy, with an emphasis on turning research into action through business innovation and citizen engagement. Whether you are an employer, educator, policymaker, community leader, or engaged citizen, Solutions with Sagamore offers a place to understand the forces changing society and explore what we can do about them. Visit sagamoreinstitute.org to learn more and explore Sagamore Institute’s research and initiatives.

Episodes

  1. Oct 19

    Indiana Child Care: $9,000 a Year, 30,000 on the Waitlist | S2E2

    Indiana child care costs average about $9,000 a year for one child, while roughly 30,000 children are waiting for state assistance. For parents trying to work, pursue training or return to school, the shortage can determine whether those opportunities are affordable.Erin Kissling, president and CEO of Early Learning Indiana, and Sam Snideman, vice president of government and sector relations at United Way of Central Indiana, explain why child care remains difficult to find and pay for. They discuss the end of pandemic assistance, roughly 500 provider closures, and the state's $200 million infusion through the FROG Fund to restart voucher enrollment.Sagamore Institute senior fellow Derek Redelman examines how the Child Care and Development Fund and On My Way Pre-K support lower-income households, and why a sharp eligibility cutoff can discourage workers from accepting higher-paying jobs. The guests also consider the financial squeeze on providers who must raise wages without putting tuition further beyond families' reach.The conversation moves from affordability to educational quality, including evidence of lasting preschool benefits, gaps between early learning and kindergarten, and Indiana's Paths to QUALITY ratings. Kissling describes Classroom Ready, a skills-based training program connected to Ivy Tech and Purdue Global, as the guests debate credentials, classroom competency and educator pay.Looking ahead to the next legislative session, they consider employer tax credits, Tri-Share, scholarships and other options to expand access. Indiana currently has enough capacity to serve only about two-thirds of children who need care, making early education a central workforce issue.

About

Solutions with Sagamore is a public policy podcast from Sagamore Institute exploring education, workforce development, economic opportunity, and the challenges shaping Indiana, the nation, and the world. Researchers, business leaders, educators, and public officials discuss practical ways to strengthen communities, prepare people for changing careers, and improve how government serves citizens. Conversations cover the future of work, K-12 and higher education, manufacturing, technological change, national security, and civic leadership. How can schools and employers prepare the next generation for success? What will help men and boys reconnect with education, work, and community? How can cities deliver better services with limited resources? Each episode examines the ideas, research, and experiences behind potential solutions. Based in Indianapolis, Sagamore Institute brings a heartland perspective to public policy, with an emphasis on turning research into action through business innovation and citizen engagement. Whether you are an employer, educator, policymaker, community leader, or engaged citizen, Solutions with Sagamore offers a place to understand the forces changing society and explore what we can do about them. Visit sagamoreinstitute.org to learn more and explore Sagamore Institute’s research and initiatives.