National Survey of Early Care and Education (NSECE)

2012-2026

The National Survey of Early Care and Education (NSECE) aims to provide a comprehensive portrait of both the availability and use of early care and education (ECE) in the United States. 

The National Survey of Early Care and Education (NSECE) collected data from nationally-representative samples including interviews in all 50 states and Washington, DC.  The NSECE includes a set of four integrated surveys of 1) households with children under age 13, 2) home-based providers, 3) center-based providers, and 4) the center-based workforce. Together these four surveys characterize the supply of and demand for ECE in the United States and permit better understanding of how well families' needs and preferences mirror providers' offerings and constraints. The NSECE surveys make particular effort to measure the experiences of families with low income, as these families are the focus of a significant component of ECE and school-age public policy.

The study uses a provider-cluster approach for sampling all four surveys from the same small geographic areas. This approach allows the survey to document the relationship between the supply of and use of early care and education where it occurs—in local communities—while simultaneously capturing data that efficiently constructs national estimates.

2012 NSECE (2010-2015)

In 2012, the NSECE was launched to improve our understanding about the ECE services available throughout the U.S.  The 2012 NSECE was the first nationally representative survey of ECE supply and demand conducted in over 20 years and has improved our understanding about the different types of ECE services available and how families with young children select and pay for child care services.

The 2012 NSECE data are archived at the Child and Family Data Archive  
https://www.childandfamilydataarchive.org/cfda/archives/cfda/studies/35519

2019 NSECE (2017-2022)

The 2019 NSECE builds on the data collected in the 2012 NSECE. The 2019 NSECE collected data in a manner that facilitates comparisons with data collected in the 2012 NSECE and allows for examination of the changing landscape of child care and early education programs during that 7-year period. It also provides data to answer new and persistent research questions, including:

  • How have parental schedules, ECE costs, and parental preferences for types of care changed since 2012?
  • What are the characteristics of ECE providers and workers in 2019?
  • How do providers blend funding from different sources?
  • Which providers are willing and able to participate in the child care subsidy program?
  • How do parents seek help paying for ECE?

The 2019 NSECE data are being archived at the Child and Family Data Archive  https://www.childandfamilydataarchive.org/cfda/archives/cfda/studies/37941

NSECE COVID-19 Longitudinal Follow-up 

With the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, a new data collection effort began in Spring 2020 under the 2019 contract to learn how the pandemic was affecting ECE providers and the individuals who work directly with children in ECE settings. The NSECE project team sought to re-interview center-based providers, center-based workforce members, listed home-based providers, and unlisted and paid home-based providers who completed surveys in the 2019 NSECE. Households participating in the 2019 NSECE were not included in the NSECE COVID-19 Longitudinal Follow-up. Data collection for the NSECE COVID-19 Longitudinal Follow-up took place across two waves between late 2020 and early 2022.

The NSECE COVID-19 Longitudinal Follow-up data files are being archived at the Child and Family Data Archive  on a rolling basis beginning in summer 2023: https://doi.org/10.3886/ICPSR38578

Support for Analytic Capacity of National Survey of Early Care and Education (NSECE) Data (2020-2025)

This project supports the NSECE data dissemination and use to achieve the data’s full potential as an analytic and methodological resource for the Administration for Children and Families (ACF), researchers, policymakers, and the early care and education (ECE) community broadly.

This project enhances the analytic capacity and supports the optimal use of data collected across both rounds through:

  • provision of restricted-use data access to researchers,
  • enhancements to public-use and restricted-use data files,
  • technical assistance to researchers using the NSECE data, and
  • analyses of data on questions of high priority to ACF.

 

2024 NSECE (2021 — 2026)

The National Survey of Early Care and Education (NSECE) 2024 builds on the data collected in the 2012 and 2019 NSECE.

The NSECE 2024 will collect data in a manner that facilitates comparisons with data collected in the NSECE 2012 and 2019 and allows for examination of the changing landscape of child care and early education programs during that 12-year period. It also provides data to answer new and persistent research questions, including: 

  • How have parental schedules, ECE costs, and parental preferences for types of care changed since 2019? 
  • What are the characteristics of ECE providers and workers in 2024, and how have these changed since 2019? 
  • How do providers blend funding from different sources? 
  • Which providers are willing and able to participate in the child care subsidy program? 
  • How do parents seek help paying for ECE? 
  • What are the employment experiences, job conditions and economic conditions of ECE workers?

The NSECE 2024 is implemented through a contract with NORC at the University of Chicago, with partners from Chapin Hall at the University of Chicago, and Child Trends 

Data users may contact NORC directly with any questions at nsece@norc.org

Data from the NSECE 2024 are expected to be archived at the Child and Family Data Archive  

Point(s) of contact: Ivelisse Martinez-Beck and Ann Rivera.

This study is registered on https://clinicaltrials.gov/ under the title National Survey of Early Care and Education 2019. Visit disclaimer page

Information collections related to this project have been reviewed and approved by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs under OMB #0970-0391. Related materials are available on RegInfo.gov . To view all approved documents for these information collections (e.g., Supporting Statements, instruments, contact materials), search for ICR Reference # 0970-0391. This will generate a list of all approved information collections for the NSECE. Within this list, select a cohort, then View Information Collection (IC) List to view instruments, or View Supporting Statement and Other Documents to view supplementary documents.

 

Related Resources

This research brief series documents the historical contexts in which the different waves of the NSECE were developed and fielded, and shares important research and methodological advances made possible by the NSECE.

This snapshot uses longitudinal data from 2019, 2021, and 2022 in the National Survey of Early Care and Education (NSECE) to examine the mental health and well-being of the center-based CCEE workforce from 2019, by race and ethnicity.

This brief draws from data collected in the 2019 NSECE Center-based Provider Survey. In the NSECE, a center-based provider delivers CCEE services to children aged five and under, not yet in kindergarten, at a single location. This brief describes how enrollment and vacancies at center-based child care and early education (CCEE) programs can be estimated using data from the 2019 National Survey of Early Care and Education (NSECE).

This snapshot uses data from the 2019 NSECE (Jan. 2019 — July 2019) and NSECE COVID-19 Longitudinal Follow-up Center-based Workforce Surveys (Jan. 2021 — Mar. 2021) to describe the employment experiences of the CCEE workforce by role, education level, and certification during the pandemic.

This chartbook uses data from the 2019 NSECE Center-based Surveys to describe the role of faith-based organizations in center-based CCEE.

Using nationally representative data from the 2019 National Survey of Early Care and Education (NSECE) Household Survey, this snapshot presents findings about the child care and early education (CCEE) cost burdens, the percentage of income that parents pay as out-of-pocket costs for regular CCEE.

This snapshot uses data from 2019 National Survey of Early Care and Education (NSECE), together with the 2012 NSECE, to describe the characteristics of households with young children to describe the characteristics of households with young children and reports on the work schedules of parents during a reference week in 2019 and describes how work schedules differed for households of different income levels; between one-parent and two-parent families; and in households where neither, one, nor both parents worked.

This fact sheet provides nationally representative estimates of the distances between families’ homes and the regular nonparental care they use for children 5 years and under...

The National Survey of Early Care and Education (NSECE) includes data from four integrated, nationally representative surveys conducted in 2012 to understand the supply of and demand for Early Care and Education in the United States. This fact sheet on home-based care provides the first nationally representative portrait of home-based providers of early care and education, describing individuals who care for other people’s children, age five and under, in home-based settings...

The National Survey of Early Care and Education (NSECE) includes data from four integrated, nationally representative surveys conducted in 2012 to understand the supply of and demand for Early Care and Education in the United States. This fact sheet on non-standard hours uses data from the NSECE to describe the flexibility of available ECE in the U.S., providing nationally representative estimates of the percentage of ECE providers serving young children (aged birth through 5 years)...

This brief uses new, nationally representative data from The National Survey of Early Care and Education (NSECE) —funded by the Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation (OPRE) in the Administration for Children and Families (ACF), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services—to describe critical elements in the decision-making process of parents and other caregivers regarding the non-parental care of infants, toddlers, and preschoolers. 

Respondents (usually parents) in...

What did the early childhood teaching and caregiving workforce look like in 2012? This research brief describes the Early Care and Education (ECE) workforce data developed in the National Survey of Early Care and Education (NSECE). The survey focuses on individuals providing direct care and education for children birth through five years and not yet in kindergarten. Findings are based on over 10,000 questionnaires completed in 2012 by a sample of individuals representing about one million...

The Summary of Data Collection and Sampling Methodology brief describes the purpose of the National Survey of Early Care and Education (NSECE), sampling design and content for the four integrated, nationally representative surveys, and data collection methodology. The brief addresses distinctive features of the NSECE and provides examples of how the data allows for analyses to answer questions of interest to policy-makers and researchers...

This infographic uses data from the 2019 NSECE Center-based Provider Survey to describe subsidy receipt for center-based providers.

This brief draws from data collected in the 2019 NSECE Center-based Provider Survey and Wave 1 of the NSECE COVID-19 Longitudinal Follow-up. In the NSECE, a center-based provider delivers CCEE services to children aged five and under, not yet in kindergarten, at a single location. This brief describes calendar year 2020 experiences of CCEE centers that were operating in 2019, including changes in their enrollments and their instructional staff.

This manual describes what types of variables are in the NSECE quick tabulation data files, how to use the quick tabulation data files, and what variables are included in the 2019 Center-based quick tabulation data file.

This user’s guide describes what types of variables are in the NSECE public-use data files, how to use the public-use data files, and what variables are included in the 2019 Center-based public-use file.

This manual provides information on the 2019 National Survey of Early Care and Education (NSECE) Home-based provider quick tabulation data file for Listed providers.

This user’s guide describes what types of variables are in the NSECE public-use data files, how to use the public-use data files, and what variables are included in the 2019 Household main public-use and calendar data files.

This manual describes what types of variables are in the NSECE Level-1 restricted-use data files, how to use the Level-1 restricted-use files, and what variables are included in the 2019 Workforce Level-1 restricted-use data file.

This manual provides information on the 2019 National Survey of Early Care and Education (NSECE) Home-based provider quick tabulation data file for unlisted providers.

This manual provides information on the 2019 National Survey of Early Care and Education (NSECE) Workforce quick tabulation data file.

This manual provides information on the 2019 National Survey of Early Care and Education (NSECE) Center-based Provider Level-1 restricted-use data file.

This manual provides information on the 2019 National Survey of Early Care and Education (NSECE) Home-based Provider Level-1 restricted-use data file.

This manual provides information on the 2019 National Survey of Early Care and Education (NSECE) Household Level-1 restricted-use data file.

This user’s guide provides information on the 2019 National Survey of Early Care and Education (NSECE) Home-based provider public-use data file.

This chartbook uses data from the 2019 National Survey of Early Care and Education Center-based Survey and 2019 National Survey of Early Care and Education Workforce to describe classrooms with young children.

This chartbook uses data from the 2012 NSECE and 2019 NSECE to describe the center-based ECE workforce that served children five and under not yet in kindergarten

This chartbook uses data from the 2012 and 2019 NSECE Household Surveys to describe children’s use of child care and early education (CCEE) and five specific types of CCEE.

This chartbook describes the relative geographic distribution of children and CCEE providers in 2019 and 2012 using nationally representative data from the 2019 NSECE and 2012 NSECE. It also compares the relative distribution of children in different kinds of CCEE by different community characteristics in both years.

This user's guide describes what types of variables are in the NSECE public-use data files, how to use the NSECE public-use data files, and what variables are included in the 2019 Workforce public-use data file.

Methodology report for the 2019 National Survey of Early Care and Education (NSECE) describing the survey design and data collection approach for data users and other interested parties.

This guide walks data users through the steps of applying for, accessing, using, and protecting National Survey of Early Care and Education (NSECE) Level-2 Restricted-use (L2) data.

This chartbook draws from data collected in the 2012 and 2019 NSECE Center-based Provider Surveys. In the NSECE, a center-based provider delivers CCEE services to children age five and under, not yet in kindergarten, at a single location.

This chartbook provides nationally representative estimates of all home-based care to children under age 13 in 2012 and 2019, using data from the National Survey of Early Care and Education.

In the U.S. in 2012, public funding of early care and education (ECE) could come from a variety of programs and levels of government (federal, state, local). This analysis of data from the 2012 National Survey of Early Care and Education uses household reports to estimate percentages of children under 5 years who enrolled in 2012 in two types of publicly funded ECE: center-based and paid home-based care...

The 2019 National Survey of Early Care and Education (NSECE) is a coordinated set of four nationally representative surveys aimed at describing the early care and education (ECE) landscape in the United States, including the use and availability of care. Information was collected from individuals and programs providing ECE in center-based and home-based settings to children age birth through five years, and from households with children under age 13...

The 2019 National Survey of Early Care and Education (NSECE) is a coordinated set of four nationally representative surveys aimed at describing the early care and education (ECE) landscape in the United States, including the use and availability of care. Information was collected from individuals and programs providing ECE in center-based and home-based settings to children age birth through five years, and from households with children under age 13... 

The 2019 National Survey of Early Care and Education (NSECE) is a coordinated set of four nationally representative surveys aimed at describing the early care and education (ECE) landscape in the United States, including the use and availability of care. Information was collected from individuals and programs providing ECE in center-based and home-based settings to children age birth through five years, and from households with children under age 13...

The 2019 National Survey of Early Care and Education (NSECE) is a coordinated set of four nationally representative surveys aimed at describing the early care and education (ECE) landscape in the United States, including the use and availability of care. Information was collected from individuals and programs providing ECE in center-based and home-based settings to children age birth through five years, and from households with children under age 13...

These snapshots describe U.S. households’ costs for, and usage of, ECE in 2012, looking at differences by age of child, household income, and community urbanicity.

This publication uses data from the National Survey of Early Care and Education (NSECE) to present four sets of tables, summarizing...

This research snapshot describes work schedules of parents of young children during a reference week in 2012. We describe how work schedules differ for households of different income levels; between one-parent and two-parent families; and in households where neither, one, or both parents work...

This report offers a national picture of selected segments of the early care and education market by describing how important attributes of the supply and demand for center-based care relate to each other.

This report documents the use of probabilistic record linkage methods to calculate participation in the Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) program...

This report provides a nationally representative estimate of all home-based care to children ages birth through five years and not yet in kindergarten as of 2012, using data from the National Survey of Early Care and Education.

Home-based providers discussed in the report include both paid and unpaid providers of care. The report describes the characteristics of the providers themselves and the care they provide...

This report draws on data from the National Survey of Early Care and Education (NSECE) to describe characteristics of early care and education centers that participate in Head Start and publicly-funded pre-kindergarten. The supplement to the report provides additional details about the analyses, including information about tabulations and definitions used, as well as a discussion of features of the data that affect how additional analyses might be undertaken...

This methodological report describes how selected predictors of quality can be measured using data from the National Survey of Early Care and Education (NSECE). The report also provides descriptive data for each of the selected predictors of quality. The report considers attributes of early care and education settings that contribute to quality at the following levels...

The National Survey of Early Care and Education (NSECE) is a set of four integrated, nationally representative surveys conducted in 2012 of: 1) households with children under age 13, 2) home-based providers of early care and education (ECE), 3) center-based providers of ECE, and 4) the center-based provider workforce. The four surveys are used to understand the supply of and demand for ECE in the United States. This report focuses on prices charged for ECE by center- and home-based...

This technical report uses new, nationally representative data—The National Survey of Early Care and Education (NSECE), funded by the Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation (OPRE) in the Administration for Children and Families (ACF), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services—to describe the current landscape of center-based early care and education (ECE) programs in this country. The NSECE includes 4 surveys, and the survey used here, the NSECE Center-based Provider...

This instrument details the National Survey of Early Care & Education’s Revised Household Screener…

This instrument details the National Survey of Early Care & Education’s Revised Center-Based Provider…

This instrument details the National Survey of Early Care & Education’s Revised Home-Based Provider…

This instrument details the National Survey of Early Care & Education’s Revised Household Questionnaire…

This instrument details the National Survey of Early Care & Education’s Revised Workforce (Classroom…

This instrument details the National Survey of Early Care & Education’s Revised Center-Based Provider…