Child Care Quality: Does It Matter and Does It Need to be Improved?

Abstract

he quality of child care in the United States leaves room for improvement. Caregiverqualifications declined nationally, salaries did not improve during the 1990s, and teacher turnover is high. Research shows that quality matters. For example, substituting a poor quality caregiver with an excellent one improves a child’s school readiness by 50%. Over time, kids with better preschool care are more likely to complete high school and college, earn higher wages, and commit fewer crimes. Higher quality care also increases the odds that parents will continue their education, keep their jobs, and work longer hours. The authors also discuss government’s role in child care and why the private marketplace does not work as well for child care as for other industries.

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