Research
Improving Child Care Through Research
Data and fact sheets on the early care and education system.
Providing information to policymakers and program creators.
Our research team conducts comprehensive studies and maintains education data.
Early Years conducts research that strengthens North Carolina’s early care and education (ECE) system. Our team studies the ECE workforce, child care supply and demand, program quality and the policies that shape the field. We use data to inform decision-makers and support efforts that improve outcomes for children, families and providers.
Want to Cite Our Research?
Each number and quote should be attributed to Early Years with a footnote or in-text citation, rather than simply listing Early Years on a bibliography page.
Featured
Early Years Releases 2023 North Carolina Child Care Workforce Study
This comprehensive study gathered data from early childhood programs spanning every county in North Carolina.
Child Care Supply and Demand Data
To inform planning, policy development, and investments for early care and education, you may access real-time data about child care demand and supply in every county in North Carolina. This information is provided by the NC Child Care Resource and Referral Council with funding from the NC Division of Child Development and Early Education.
Our Approach to Research
Early Years recognizes that information is the first step to improving an ECE system. Comprehensive, accurate data helps researchers and advocates identify interventions to improve working conditions for child care providers, increase the quality of care, provide better supports for families and more. For this reason, Early Years’ research department conducts a variety of studies that explore issues related to early care and education.
Trusted Research and Historical Insight
Since the 90s, Early Years has been known for our comprehensive data on North Carolina’s ECE workforce, including information on compensation, working conditions, education, turnover and more. Our historical perspective on the field helps define a roadmap to growth.
In addition to county and statewide workforce assessments, Early Years has researched and reported on topics such as teacher turnover, supply and demand, subsidy, careers in early childhood, child care fees, after school care, child care system issues and more. These studies arm policymakers in our state local governments, and stakeholders in our communities with the information they need to fortify the early care and education system.
Accessible and Actionable Data
Early Years wants data on the ECE system to be both widely available and easy to understand, for researchers, providers and families alike. To help make this a reality, we created the North Carolina Early Care and Education Data Repository. With this tool, users can find ECE data gathered from multiple sources, all in one place. Users can explore county- or state-level data in four different topic areas, with easily downloadable fact sheets or excel files.
Most of the information collected by Early Years’ research staff comes from surveys mailed to ECE providers or families who use ECE programs. Additional information comes from state and national databases.
All research conducted by Early Years is paid for by contracts between a private or public agency requesting the information and Early Years.
Get the Early Years Newsletter
Stay in the know with Early Years. Our newsletter provides updates about early childhood education, policy advances, positive parenting tips and more.
