Child care type, access, and quality in rural areas of the United States: a review

Abstract

Millions of children in the United States live in rural areas and often start school with fewer school readiness skills than counterparts in urban areas. Access to high-quality child care could be a mechanism to improve school readiness; however, it is unclear what, if anything, distinguishes child care in rural and urban areas. Focusing specifically on three aspects of child care pertinent to children’s school readiness, including type, access, and quality, we review the extant literature on characteristics of child care in rural areas of the United States and identified seventeen studies. Parents in rural (vs. urban) areas more commonly select and can access family- or home-based child care vs. centre-based care. Child care quality bears similar relations with children’s outcomes in rural and urban areas. This descriptive review suggests the need for additional research focused on child care in rural areas to better inform child care policy.

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