ECE News & Research
Evidence-based reporting on the issues that define the early childhood education workforce. Policy. Compensation. Equity. The data that matters and the stories behind it.
Latest Articles
Nearly 1 in 4 ECE Educators May Leave the Field This Year
22% of educators considering leaving. The January 2026 NAEYC workforce survey of 7,000+ professionals reveals a deepening burnout crisis across the field.
Sources: NAEYC 2026 Survey | CSCCE Workforce Index
New Mexico Signs First Universal Child Care Law
16,700+ children enrolled since launch. Eliminates copays regardless of income or immigration status. But the supply-side workforce gap remains the central challenge.
Sources: NM ECECD | CSCCE Interactive Map
Immigration and the Child Care Crisis
39,000 fewer foreign-born child care workers in 2025 vs 2024. One in five ECE educators is an immigrant. Enforcement actions are eliminating supply, not need.
Key Data Sources
We monitor publications and data releases from these organizations weekly:
Primary Sources
Research Publications
Key publications informing the Waging Love project:
- CSCCE Early Childhood Workforce Index 2024 — Comprehensive state-by-state analysis of ECE compensation, qualifications, and work environments. ECE educators earn a median of $13.07/hr, placing them at the 3rd percentile across all U.S. occupations. Read the full report
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) — Federal wage data for childcare workers (SOC 39-9011), preschool teachers (25-2011), and kindergarten teachers (25-2012). Median annual: $32,050 vs $61,430 for comparable education. View the data
- NAEYC 2026 ECE Workforce Survey — January 2026 survey of 7,000+ educators. 22% considering leaving, 80% of centers understaffed, insurance costs rising for 68% of programs. Survey findings
- FFYF Federal Funding Analysis — FY2026 funding increased for Head Start and CCDBG; FY2027 proposes eliminating Preschool Development Grant and CCAMPIS. First Five Years Fund
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