Research and Data
We are proud to undertake research on the child care landscape and use it to advocate for the child care policies that improve the lives of children, families, and educators.
Latest Reports
Economics & Child Care: Where Are We Now and Where Do We Go?
July 2025
Child care is essential to our families, workforce, and economy—but the current system is failing on all fronts. This report assesses the state of the child care market, highlights the barriers holding back progress, and lays out suggestions to build a stronger, more sustainable future.
Families Demand Child Care Investment: What Parents Need Policymakers to Know
June 2025
An overwhelming majority of parents—across party lines and in all types of communities—say that expanding access to affordable, quality child care should be a high priority for both federal and state policymakers, and that funding for child care and early learning should be increased.
Parents Know the Brain Science: Parents Want Policymakers to Fund Early Learning
June 2025
Across party lines and regions, parents recognize that the earliest years are critical for their child’s brain development. They are calling on federal and state leaders to invest in child care policies that support early learning, safe and nurturing environments, and skilled educators.
Child Care in America: 2024 Price & Supply
May 2025
Every family deserves access to quality, affordable child care so they can work and provide for their loved ones. However, as CCAoA research shows, for most families across the country, such care remains out of reach due to high prices and limited availability.
An Uneven Start: 2025 State Funding for Child Care & Early Learning
April 2025
The report highlights America’s fragmented child care system that hurts everyone—children, families, and the economy—and puts forward solutions that can contribute to solving the nation’s child care challenges.
More Resources
CCR&R Position Statement & Landscape Survey
To elevate the impact of CCR&Rs, CCAoA developed a CCR&R Position Statement outlining the key services CCR&Rs provide, what effective CCR&Rs look like, and strategies for strengthening child care systems through collaboration.
GIS Mapping
Geographic Information Systems (GIS) can be used across teams and departments to help us map and better understand the federal, state, or local needs of child care.
State Snapshots: Data stories
Data stories allow users to interact with meaningful data, access customized data visualizations, and develop actionable advocacy tools.
Data Request Form
This form allows you to request specific information and datasets to support your work in the child care sector.
