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"A Year of Tough Choices”: The Child Care Affordability Crisis is Destabilizing Educators and Families

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NAEYC’s 2026 ECE Workforce Survey

In January 2026, thousands of early childhood educators across states and settings responded to NAEYC’s annual early childhood education (ECE) workforce survey. The survey results and accompanying testimonies demonstrate a clear crisis of affordability for the early childhood education field and the children and families they serve, and the need for stable, sustainable public investments to help ease their shared burdens.

Download each state's specific survey data below to see quotes and data on rising costs, burnout, and closures.

Reach out to [email protected] with questions.

State by State Survey Briefs

Audience: Administrator (director or principal), Faculty, Family, Teacher

Topics: Other Topics, NAEYC Policy Perspective