National Survey of Early Care and Education 2024

2021 - 2026

The National Survey of Early Care and Education (NSECE) 2024 builds on the data collected in the 2012 and 2019 NSECE. The 2012 NSECE was the first nationally representative survey of Early Care and Education (ECE) supply and demand conducted in over 20 years, and the 2019 NSECE built on the data collected in the 2012 NSECE. The 2012 and 2019 NSECE data have improved our understanding about the ECE services available throughout the U.S. and how families with young children select and pay for child care services. The NSECE 2024 consists of four inter-related surveys to collect information about: 

  • households with children under the age of 13; 

  • center- based providers of child care and early education serving at least one child birth through age 5-years;  

  • home-based providers of child care and early education services available to families with children ages birth to 13- years; and 

  • workforce caring for young children in center-based settings 

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 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 2024? 

  • 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 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 

Access to updates on 2024 NSECE . 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