Procare Solutions Releases 2026 Child Care Business Trends Report

Rhea-AI Summary

Procare Solutions (NYSE:ROP) released its fourth annual 2026 Child Care Business Trends Report on March 4, 2026, based on surveys of nearly 5,000 educators and usage data from ~40,000 centers. The report identifies staffing, enrollment, public funding and professional development as primary challenges.

Key metrics: 41% of centers under capacity, 78% use child care software, and 39% now use AI tools (up 77% year-over-year).

Key Figures

Survey respondents: nearly 5,000 professionals Child care centers: nearly 40,000 centers Centers under capacity: 41% of centers +5 more

8 metrics

Survey respondents nearly 5,000 professionals Child Care Business Trends Report sample size

Child care centers nearly 40,000 centers Usage data underpinning the report

Centers under capacity 41% of centers Operating under capacity

Burnout challenge 43% of respondents Cite burnout and staff well-being as major challenge

Reliance on grants 31% of respondents Say they rely on grants to run their businesses

Software adoption 78% of leaders Report using child care management software

Time savings from software 79% of leaders Say software saves significant time

AI tools usage increase 39% using AI; 77% increase Share using AI tools and YoY increase

Market Reality Check

Price: $356.00 Vol: Volume 1,293,175 is below...

low vol

$356.00 Last Close

Volume Volume 1,293,175 is below the 20-day average of 2,037,853 (relative volume 0.63x). low

Technical Shares trade below the 200-day MA of 484.25 with price at 356, indicating a weaker longer-term trend.

Peers on Argus

Sector momentum data flags only MSTR in the scanner, up 10.72%, with no confirme...

1 Up

Sector momentum data flags only MSTR in the scanner, up 10.72%, with no confirmed direction for ROP and no other peers in momentum. This points to stock-specific dynamics rather than a broad software move.

Historical Context

5 past events · Latest: Mar 02 (Positive)

Pattern 5 events

Date	Event	Sentiment	Move	Catalyst
Mar 02	Conference presentation	Positive	+1.2%	Announcement of presentation at Morgan Stanley technology conference.
Feb 25	Partnership announcement	Positive	+1.9%	Transact + CBORD partnership with MyVenue for campus concessions integration.
Feb 25	Leadership changes	Positive	+1.9%	iPipeline executive appointments to support revenue and services growth.
Feb 19	Dividend declaration	Positive	+1.3%	Board approval of a quarterly cash dividend of <b>$0.91</b> per share.
Feb 18	Product launch	Positive	+3.8%	Launch of AI-first digital platform and iGO Evolve module at iPipeline.

Pattern Detected

Recent company and portfolio news (conferences, partnerships, AI launches, dividends) has typically aligned with positive next-day price moves between 1.2% and 3.83%.

Recent Company History

Over recent months, Roper-related news has highlighted portfolio development and capital returns. An AI-first digital platform launch at iPipeline on Feb 18, 2026 coincided with a 3.83% move, while dividend and leadership updates in February saw gains between 1.34% and 1.94%. Conference participation on Mar 4, 2026 aligned with a 1.2% increase. Today’s Procare Solutions industry report fits this pattern of software- and information-driven updates within Roper’s vertical software businesses.

Market Pulse Summary

This announcement from Procare Solutions, part of Roper’s software ecosystem, underscores both chall...

Analysis

This announcement from Procare Solutions, part of Roper’s software ecosystem, underscores both challenges and digitization tailwinds in early childhood education. Data from nearly 5,000 professionals and 40,000 centers show capacity constraints and burnout, but also strong technology uptake, with 78% using management software and 39% using AI tools. In context of Roper’s focus on vertical software, investors may watch adoption rates, funding reliance, and evolving AI usage across its education-related businesses.

Key Terms

ai tools

1 terms

ai tools technical

"39% say they now use AI tools, a 77% increase from last year's report."

AI tools are software systems that use machine learning and other artificial intelligence methods to analyze data, make predictions, automate tasks, or generate content without constant human direction. For investors, they matter because these tools can change a company's costs, productivity, competitive edge and risk profile—like upgrading from manual bookkeeping to a smart assistant that works faster and may reveal hidden opportunities or new threats to profits.

AI-generated analysis. Not financial advice.

DENVER, March 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Procare Solutions, a leader in child care management software, released our fourth annual Child Care Business Trends Report, offering a detailed look at the challenges and opportunities shaping early childhood education in the year ahead. The report draws on survey responses from nearly 5,000 early childhood education professionals and usage data from nearly 40,000 child care centers.

Together, these insights provide a comprehensive snapshot of the industry, highlighting how educators continue to navigate four key challenges: hiring and retaining staff, enrollment management, access to public funding and professional development.

Other findings in the report include:

• 41% of centers are operating under capacity.
• 43% of respondents said burnout and staff well-being is a major challenge.
• 31% of respondents say they rely on grants to run their businesses.
• 63% of teachers report managing classroom behavior as their primary challenge.

Accelerated technology adoption is another key theme, underscoring the importance of child care management software and a shift in attitudes towards AI usage in the classroom.

• 78% of leaders report using child care management software.
• 79% say child care software saves them significant time, allowing more focus on children.
• 65% of teachers identify communication tools as the most valuable software feature.
• 39% say they now use AI tools, a 77% increase from last year's report.

By using technology such as child care management software, educators are better equipped to overcome the challenges outlined in this report. The growing adoption of digital tools demonstrates that child care professionals are evolving to meet increasing operational demands and the needs of today's families.

"Progress is within reach," says Sam Loveland, Chief Customer Officer of Procare Solutions. "By investing in professional development and mentorship within classrooms and extending that commitment to family engagement and advocacy, we can strengthen early childhood education at every level of government."

The report also highlights trends in curriculum and assessments, family engagement, managing finances and security and compliance. Together, these insights will help child care leaders make informed decisions to support daily operations and strengthen the experience for children, families and staff.

Download your free copy of the 2026 Procare Solutions Child Care Business Report to make informed decisions on how to help your program thrive.

For more information or to schedule an interview about the report, email Karli Jerabek, Marketing Specialist at Procare Solutions, at knjerabek@procaresoftware.com.

About Procare Solutions
For over 30 years, Procare Solutions has been dedicated to empowering early childhood educators by providing products and services that enable them to focus on the care, safety and education of children. 

We recognize the responsibility that comes with nurturing and educating children, which is why child care management solutions are designed to automate business processes, help ensure safety and compliance, communicate with families and provide educational resources and training to help teachers and children thrive. 

Over 40,000 satisfied customers have chosen Procare Solutions as their trusted partner in providing exceptional care for young minds.

Procare Solutions is a business unit of Roper Technologies (Nasdaq: ROP), a constituent of the S&P 500 and Fortune 1000. To learn more, visit ProcareSolutions.com.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/procare-solutions-releases-2026-child-care-business-trends-report-302704060.html

SOURCE Procare Solutions

FAQ

What are the top challenges highlighted in Procare Solutions' 2026 report for ROP investors?

The top challenges are hiring/retention, enrollment management, access to public funding, and professional development. According to Procare Solutions, these issues are based on surveys of nearly 5,000 early childhood professionals and usage data from about 40,000 centers.

How widespread is child care software adoption per the 2026 Procare Solutions report (ROP)?

Child care software adoption is high: 78% of leaders report using such software. According to Procare Solutions, that figure comes from their survey and center usage data covering nearly 40,000 child care centers.

What did the 2026 report say about center capacity and enrollment for ROP stakeholders?

The report found 41% of centers are operating under capacity, indicating enrollment pressure. According to Procare Solutions, this metric derives from combined survey responses and operational usage data across many centers.

How has AI usage changed in child care according to Procare Solutions' 2026 report (ROP)?

AI usage increased markedly: 39% of respondents now use AI tools, a 77% increase from last year. According to Procare Solutions, this reflects growing experimentation with AI in classroom and administrative tasks.

What software features do teachers value most in the 2026 Procare Solutions report (ROP)?

Teachers identified communication tools as the most valuable software feature. According to Procare Solutions, 65% of teachers cited communication tools as top priority for improving family and classroom interactions.

How reliant are centers on grants according to the 2026 Procare Solutions Child Care Business Trends Report (ROP)?

About 31% of respondents say they rely on grants to run their businesses. According to Procare Solutions, this indicates funding vulnerability for a significant portion of early childhood providers.