"I don't have much of a choice": Low-income single mothers' COVID-19 school and care decisions.

Objective: This study used a preferences and constraints framework to understand mothers' decision-making processes around childcare and schooling during the COVID-19 pandemic and how socioeconomic context contribute to these decisions.

Background: Despite potential long-standing consequences of school decision making during the COVID-19 pandemic, we know little about how parents consider childcare and education options during these times. And, these decisions are particularly important for single mothers in resource-scarce environments whose children benefit disproportionately from appropriate care and education.

Method: This study used qualitative data gathered from semistructured interviews with low-income, single mothers ( = 34).

Results: Approximately half of mothers selected home-based care while the other half selected site-based care. Findings suggest that mothers made decisions largely on the basis of constraints-safety or financial need. Given high levels of fear and system mistrust, Black mothers more commonly selected home-based care than White mothers.

Conclusion: The COVID-19 pandemic seems to exacerbate the restricted childcare calculus of low-income mothers.

Implications: Partnering with communities and disseminating accurate information, particularly in Black communities, is critical for establishing trust and positioning low-income single mothers to make current care and education decisions, as well as future decisions, such as vaccination decisions.