2024 National Survey of Early Care & Education
Overview
Welcome to the 2024 National Survey of Early Care and Education (NSECE)!
The NSECE has collected information from families and child care providers before, first in 2012 and then in 2019. We are talking with people across the nation again in 2024 to learn how recent changes in programs and policies and the COVID-19 pandemic have affected communities across the country. The study focuses on early care and education providers and the workforce, as well as the communities they support. The NSECE is four surveys of:
- Households in communities across the nation: Parents or guardians of children under age 13.
- Providers of home-based care: Individuals or regulated, licensed, or registered providers of care for children under age 13 (who are not their own) in a home-based setting. This includes, for example, home-based day cares, grandparents, friends and relatives, neighbors, or baby-sitters.
- Centers, schools, and other programs: Organizational providers including license-exempt providers, Head Start and providers in school-based settings, and for-profit and non-profit community-based preschool providers.
- Classroom staff: Teachers, assistant teachers, or aides working in early care and education classrooms.
The NSECE is funded by the Administration for Children and Families, of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and conducted by NORC at the University of Chicago.
2024 NSECE Project Director
Households
The NSECE is contacting households in communities across the nation. The NSECE asks all selected households a few questions to help us understand how they may or may not use child care and whether anyone living there helps to look after children. The household survey is conducted with parents or guardians of children under 13 and seeks to learn about families and how they care for children. Since 2012, the NSECE has informed policies, including licensing regulations, health and safety guidelines, and funding for child care and public schools.
The 2024 National Survey of Early Care and Education will address questions like:
- How parents balance work and school with child care?
- How parents choose providers, people, or organizations to care for their children? What decisions do parents make as they seek this care?
- What types of early care and education do parents most need? Is this care available in their area? Is it affordable?
- How parents at different income levels pay for their children’s care? What kind of help do they need?
- Which families use care provided by family, friends, and neighbors most often and why?
- How we can better support these types of caregivers and offer opportunities to help them improve the care they offer children?
Impact
Your participation in the NSECE will allow public and local agencies, researchers, and policymakers to better understand the challenges American families face trying to provide high-quality care for their children. Sharing your experiences plays an important role in helping to make schools and daycare facilities in your area safer and better equipped to prepare children for the future.
Even if you do not use child care services or do not have children, your input matters. It is important for us to hear from every household selected to get a complete picture of early care and education needs in your community. Your household was scientifically selected, and we rely on your voluntary participation to make the study a success.
We know you are busy but talking with you is the best way to understand what kinds of care communities need. By participating, you help us provide reliable data to policymakers trying to improve early care and education resources.
FAQ for Households
The National Survey of Early Care and Education is the only study aimed at better understanding the people and programs throughout the country that take care of America’s children and the services that they provide. The study was first conducted in 2012 and again in 2019. We are now collecting new information to inform policies and practices to support early care and education providers.
NORC at the University of Chicago (NORC) is conducting this study. NORC is an independent, nonpartisan research institution that helps federal agencies, decision-makers, and nonprofits make better decisions through data and analysis. For more information about us, please visit www.norc.org.
Your household was scientifically selected from all household addresses in the U.S. to participate in this study. It is important for us to hear from every selected household to get a complete picture of the availability and use of early care and education in your area. You represent many other households like yours across the nation and cannot be replaced.
Your participation will help the nation’s policy makers and local agencies get a clearer picture of families’ needs for child care and how to better support working families that rely on these services.
Questions this study will help to answer:
- How do parents balance work and school with child care?
- What types of early care and education do parents most need? Is this care available in their area? Is it affordable?
- How do parents at different income levels pay for their children’s care? What kind of help do they need?
- Which families use care provided by family, friends, and neighbors most often and why?
Answers that could identify you or your program in any way are separated from your other responses. Survey findings are put into summary reports that contain no names or other identifying information. Your name or any identifying information will never be released to the public. This study also has a Federal Certificate of Confidentiality from the government which protects researchers and other staff from being forced to release information that could be used to identify participants in court proceedings.
We use computing systems, staff training, and strict data access requirements to protect your identity and keep your responses private.
- Questionnaire responses and respondent identifying information are stored on a secure server with restricted access.
- Only authorized personnel associated with the study will have access to questionnaire responses and respondent identifying information. This access is granted on a need-to-know basis. When this information is no longer needed, then access is shut off.
- NORC computing systems use two factor authentication. NORC staff must change their passwords on a regular basis to comply with security requirements.
- All NORC staff must pass annual trainings on data security and privacy.
- All NORC staff, including interviewers, must sign a pledge to protect your information. If this pledge is broken an employee can lose his/her job and face legal action.
All information that you provide will be kept private to the fullest extent provided by the law. If you have questions about your rights as a study participant, you may call the NORC Institutional Review Board Administrator at 1-877-309-0542.
NSECE has a variety of resources available to verify the legitimacy of the study.
- View project information online at nsece.norc.org or on the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services website.
- The U.S. Office of Management and Budget has approved this survey (0970-0391). Without this number we could not conduct this survey.
- Interviewers visiting in-person will have a NORC badge with a hologram on the back.
- Anyone may visit NORC’s Study Participants webpage where the option “How to Identify NORC Interviewers” allows them to type in the NORC interviewer’s ID number to see a photograph of the interviewer.
Home-Based Providers
The NSECE has helped show the vital role home-based child care providers play in their communities and how diverse home-based providers are. This much-needed information has helped inform funding decisions and other initiatives designed to improve early care and education across the country.
We are now contacting providers of home-based care across the nation to collect vital information from home-based providers and other caregivers to create a national profile of early care and education (ECE) services.
The NSECE:
- describes who is proving early care and education,
- their qualifications,
- their compensation,
- the services they provide,
- and what motivates them to do this work.
Since 2019, new legislation and initiatives have been introduced to better support home-based providers and help improve the quality of care they offer to families in their area. We are now collecting new information to help understand what impact these efforts have had on individuals who look after children and the people who rely on them.
Impact
Your survey responses will be combined with other participants’ in the 2024 NSECE, which will produce a rich data source that has the potential to benefit federal, state, and local or community-level child care policies. The data collected from this survey will be used to:
- Create a comprehensive catalog of the range of home-based care that is offered across the country, including how many children providers serve, the hours during which they provide care, how providers support families, and what motivates them to look after children.
- Provide detailed information on the ways in which home-based providers operate, including what curricula they use, how they staff and organize groups of children, and what families pay for care.
- Help develop initiatives to support caregivers through such things as educational assistance, training, and improved finances.
- Better understand the experiences of the ECE workforce and offer opportunities for them to improve their knowledge and skills.
FAQ for Home-Based Providers
The National Survey of Early Care and Education is the only study aimed at better understanding the people and programs throughout the country that take care of America’s children and the services that they provide. The study was first conducted in 2012 and again in 2019. We are now collecting new information to inform policies and practices to support early care and education providers.
NORC at the University of Chicago (NORC) is conducting this study. NORC is an independent, nonpartisan research institution that helps federal agencies, decision-makers, and nonprofits make better decisions through data and analysis. For more information about us, please visit www.norc.org.
You have been selected for this study from a list of early education and child care providers in your area. We are eager to hear about what motivates you to provide these services, or if you are no longer providing child care, when and why you stopped. Your completing this questionnaire will allow us to better understand how accessible child care is in your area. You represent many others across the nation and cannot be replaced!
The survey takes about 40 minutes to complete.
- Who is caring for and teaching America’s children when they are not with their parents?
- What are the features of ECE available to families?
- Do providers rely on any public funds, and if so, how are these related to the care offered?
- How can policies better support the ECE workforce?
Answers that could identify you or your program in any way are separated from your other responses. Survey findings are put into summary reports that contain no names or other identifying information. Your name or any identifying information will never be released to the public. This study also has a Federal Certificate of Confidentiality from the government which protects researchers and other staff from being forced to release information that could be used to identify participants in court proceedings.
We use computing systems, staff training, and strict data access requirements to protect your identity and keep your responses private.
- Questionnaire responses and respondent identifying information are stored on a secure server with restricted access.
- Only authorized personnel associated with the study will have access to questionnaire responses and respondent identifying information. This access is granted on a need-to-know basis. When this information is no longer needed, then access is shut off.
- NORC computing systems use two factor authentication. NORC staff must change their passwords on a regular basis to comply with security requirements.
- All NORC staff must pass annual trainings on data security and privacy.
- All NORC staff, including interviewers, must sign a pledge to protect your information. If this pledge is broken an employee can lose his/her job and face legal action.
All information that you provide will be kept private to the fullest extent provided by the law. If you have questions about your rights as a study participant, you may call the NORC Institutional Review Board Administrator at 1-877-309-0542.
NSECE has a variety of resources available to verify the legitimacy of the study.
- View project information online at nsece.norc.org or on the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services website.
- The U.S. Office of Management and Budget has approved this survey (0970-0391). Without this number we could not conduct this survey.
- Interviewers visiting in-person will have a NORC badge with a hologram on the back.
- Anyone may visit NORC’s Study Participants webpage where the option “How to Identify NORC Interviewers” allows them to type in the NORC interviewer’s ID number to see a photograph of the interviewer.
Center-Based Providers
In 2012 the NSECE created the first national profile of center-based early care and education (ECE) providers in more than 20 years, describing who they are and what kinds of care they provide. In 2019, we collected new information to update this profile. Both of these efforts helped administrators, policy makers, and public agencies understand what types of center-based care were available to families, how many providers there were, and what types of programs they offered. The study also provided insight into the challenges providers face in their efforts to provide quality care to the families they serve.
Since 2019 new legislation, funding opportunities, and program standards have been introduced in an effort to better support center-based providers and make quality care more accessible to all families. The COVID-19 pandemic also affected the provision of ECE, as well as substantial federal investments in ECE since 2020. As a result, it is critically important that we collect updated information from you so we can examine what impact these changes have had on ECE services in general and center-based providers in particular.
The 2024 National Survey of Early Care and Education will address questions like:
- Who is caring for and teaching America’s children when they are not with their parents?
- What are the characteristics of care available to families?
- What sources of revenue do providers rely on, and how are those sources related to the care offered?
- How can we better support the ECE workforce?
- What are the opportunities to improve the care that children receive?
Impact
Your responses will be combined with others’ to produce a rich data source that has the potential to benefit federal, state, and local or community-level child care policies. The data collected from this survey will be used to:
- Create a comprehensive description of the range of institutional and individual providers in the U.S., including community-based care, for-profit providers, Head Start programs, school-based settings, nonprofit providers, faith-based institutions and home-based child care providers.
- Provide detailed information on the ways in which ECE providers operate—like what curriculum they use, how they staff and organize classrooms, and what they charge.
- Help develop policies that support providers and their ability to serve families.
- Help develop initiatives so that providers can recruit and maintain staff.
FAQ for Center-Based Providers
The National Survey of Early Care and Education is the only study aimed at better understanding the people and programs throughout the country that take care of America’s children and the services that they provide. The study was first conducted in 2012 and again in 2019. We are now collecting new information to inform policies and practices to support early care and education providers.
NORC at the University of Chicago (NORC) is conducting this study. NORC is an independent, nonpartisan research institution that helps federal agencies, decision-makers, and nonprofits make better decisions through data and analysis. For more information about us, please visit www.norc.org.
The NSECE is sponsored by the Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation, Administration for Children & Families (ACF), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The Administration for Children & Families administers the Head Start program, federally-funded child care subsidies, and a variety of other programs to help regulate and improve child care across the country.
More information about the 2012 and 2019 NSECE data and findings can be found at nsece.norc.org.
You have been selected for participation in this study from a list of providers in your area based on geographic and program criteria. It is important for us to hear from every selected provider to get a complete picture of the availability of early care and education services in your area.
The survey takes about 45 minutes to complete.
- Who is caring for and teaching America’s children when they are not with their parents?
- What are the features of ECE available to families?
- Do providers rely on any public funds, and if so, how are these related to the care offered?
- How can policies better support the ECE workforce?
The survey will include various questions related to early care and education (ECE), including:
- The type of care your program provides
- How you seek new children to serve
- General information about the structure of your services
- What staff you employ and your experiences recruiting, maintaining and training staff
Answers that could identify you or your program in any way are separated from your other responses. Survey findings are put into summary reports that contain no names or other identifying information. Your name or any identifying information will never be released to the public. This study also has a Federal Certificate of Confidentiality from the government which protects researchers and other staff from being forced to release information that could be used to identify participants in court proceedings.
We use computing systems, staff training, and strict data access requirements to protect your identity and keep your responses private.
- Questionnaire responses and respondent identifying information are stored on a secure server with restricted access.
- Only authorized personnel associated with the study will have access to questionnaire responses and respondent identifying information. This access is granted on a need-to-know basis. When this information is no longer needed, then access is shut off.
- NORC computing systems use two factor authentication. NORC staff must change their passwords on a regular basis to comply with security requirements.
- All NORC staff must pass annual trainings on data security and privacy.
- All NORC staff, including interviewers, must sign a pledge to protect your information. If this pledge is broken an employee can lose his/her job and face legal action.
All information that you provide will be kept private to the fullest extent provided by the law. If you have questions about your rights as a study participant, you may call the NORC Institutional Review Board Administrator at 1-877-309-0542.
NSECE has a variety of resources available to verify the legitimacy of the study.
- View project information online at nsece.norc.org or on the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services website.
- The U.S. Office of Management and Budget has approved this survey (0970-0391). Without this number we could not conduct this survey.
- Interviewers visiting in-person will have a NORC badge with a hologram on the back.
- Anyone may visit NORC’s Study Participants webpage where the option “How to Identify NORC Interviewers” allows them to type in the NORC interviewer’s ID number to see a photograph of the interviewer.
Workforce
In 2012 the NSECE provided the first national profile of individuals working directly with children in center-based early care and education classrooms, describing who they are, their qualifications, their compensation, and what motivates them to do this work. In 2019, we collected new information to update this profile. Both of these efforts highlighted the critical role teachers, aides, and assistants play in early care and education (ECE) services and the professional challenges they face. They have helped agencies understand the kind of support classroom staff need in order to increase the quality of care offered and inform initiatives to better support the ECE workforce, from professional development programs to improved pay and benefits.
Since 2019, new legislation, funding opportunities, and program standards have been introduced in an effort to better support center-based providers and workers and make quality care more accessible to all families. The COVID-19 pandemic also affected the provision of ECE, as well as substantial federal investments in ECE since 2020. As a result, it is critically important that we collect updated information from you so we can examine what impact these changes have had on ECE services in general and on those working with children in the classroom in particular.
The 2024 National Survey of Early Care and Education will address questions like:
- Who is caring for and teaching America’s children when they are not with their parents?
- How do teachers plan activities for the children in their care?
- What opportunities are available for classroom staff to build knowledge and skills?
- How can we better support the early care and education workforce?
- What are the opportunities to improve the care that children receive?
Impact
Your survey responses will be combined with others to produce a rich data source that has the potential to benefit federal, state, and local or community-level child care policies. The data collected from this survey will be used to:
- Create a comprehensive description of the range of individuals working directly with children in the classroom, describing who they are, their qualifications, their compensation, and what motivates them to look after children.
- Help develop initiatives to support classroom staff through such things as educational assistance, training, and improved pay and benefits.
- Better understand the experiences of the early care and education workforce and offer opportunities for career growth and improved work conditions.
FAQ for the Workforce
The National Survey of Early Care and Education is the only study aimed at better understanding the people and programs throughout the country that take care of America’s children and the services that they provide. The study was first conducted in 2012 and again in 2019. We are now collecting new information to inform policies and practices to support early care and education providers.
NORC at the University of Chicago (NORC) is conducting this study. NORC is an independent, nonpartisan research institution that helps federal agencies, decision-makers, and nonprofits make better decisions through data and analysis. For more information about us, please visit www.norc.org.
The NSECE is sponsored by the Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation, Administration for Children & Families (ACF), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The Administration for Children & Families administers the Head Start program, federally-funded child care subsidies, and a variety of other programs to help regulate and improve child care across the country.
More information about the 2012 and 2019 NSECE data and findings can be found at nsece.norc.org.
The administrator or other leader at your facility completed a similar survey for program administrators, which included listing out classroom staff at the facility. You have been selected from this list. We need to hear from you as you represent other staff at your facility and at similar child care centers across the country. You cannot be replaced by someone else.
The survey takes about 20 minutes to complete.
- Who is caring for and teaching America’s children when they are not with their parents?
- What are their characteristics and background?
- How can policies better support the early care and education workforce?
The survey asks questions about the classroom you usually work in and your personal experiences with providing care, including:
- The type of activities and people present in the classroom
- Your education and training in child care
- Your thoughts about different aspects of child care
You may skip any question that you do not wish to answer.
Answers that could identify you or your program in any way are separated from your other responses. Survey findings are put into summary reports that contain no names or other identifying information. Your name or any identifying information will never be released to the public. This study also has a Federal Certificate of Confidentiality from the government which protects researchers and other staff from being forced to release information that could be used to identify participants in court proceedings. The administrator at your facility will not be able to see your survey responses.
We use computing systems, staff training, and strict data access requirements to protect your identity and keep your responses private.
- Questionnaire responses and respondent identifying information are stored on a secure server with restricted access.
- Only authorized personnel associated with the study will have access to questionnaire responses and respondent identifying information. This access is granted on a need-to-know basis. When this information is no longer needed, then access is shut off.
- NORC computing systems use two factor authentication. NORC staff must change their passwords on a regular basis to comply with security requirements.
- All NORC staff must pass annual trainings on data security and privacy.
- All NORC staff, including interviewers, must sign a pledge to protect your information. If this pledge is broken an employee can lose his/her job and face legal action.
All information that you provide will be kept private to the fullest extent provided by the law. If you have questions about your rights as a study participant, you may call the NORC Institutional Review Board Administrator at 1-877-309-0542.
NSECE has a variety of resources available to verify the legitimacy of the study.
- View project information online at nsece.norc.org or on the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services website.
- The U.S. Office of Management and Budget has approved this survey (0970-0391). Without this number we could not conduct this survey.
- Interviewers visiting in-person will have a NORC badge with a hologram on the back.
- Anyone may visit NORC’s Study Participants webpage where the option “How to Identify NORC Interviewers” allows them to type in the NORC interviewer’s ID number to see a photograph of the interviewer.
