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The early childhood education (ECE) system is faltering. While demand for ECE services remains high, limited access, lack of affordability and low-quality of service can leave Black children at a disadvantage during critical years of development. Without access to high-quality early learning, developmental gaps can be seen in children as young as 18 months. For businesses, we know lifetime earnings were approximately 25% higher for children in quality child care.

We strive for equity and excellence in ECE which is why CEOARE is working with state, local, and federal policymakers to help transform ECE from a private choice to a public good.

• More than half of Americans live in “child care deserts,” where a ratio of more than three young children for every licensed child care slot constitutes a child care desert. [1]
• Only 54% of eligible Black preschoolers are being served by Head Start (3-5 yr olds), and only 6% are served in Early Head Start programs (0 – 3 yr olds). [2]
• In 29 states, the cost of ECE exceeds that of public college tuition in the same state. ECE teachers are among the lowest paid nationwide. The median hourly income of ECE teachers with degrees or advanced degrees is only $11.65. [3]

^[1] Malik, Rasheed, Katie Hamm, and Leila Schochet. “America’s Child Care Deserts in 2018.” Center for American Progress, December 6, 2018. https://www.americanprogress.org/article/americas-child-care-deserts-2018/.

^[2] Schohl, Lisa. “Head Start Is Missing the Population It’s Designed to Serve.” CLASP, February 23, 2016. https://www.clasp.org/press-room/news-clips/head-start-missing-population-its-designed-serve/.

^[3] Gould, Elise, and Tanyell Cooke. “High Quality Child Care Is out of Reach for Working Families.” Economic Policy Institute, October 6, 2015. https://www.epi.org/publication/child-care-affordability/.