Other ECE Studies

CCSA receives grants to conduct studies of various aspects of the early care and education (ECE) system.

Past studies have included examination of various aspects of the child care subsidy system, the status of the early care and education system for infants and toddlers in North Carolina, a look at child care in the Triangle, an examination of careers available to the early care and education workforce and an overview of the policy framework for North Carolina’s entire early care and education system. Most of these studies look at data on our state’s system and sub-systems through a policy lens. Often these studies include policy recommendations to help advance the early care and education system for our young children in the state.  


Early Childhood System Studies

2021-2022 North Carolina Infant-Toddler Child Care Landscape Study

Over the past year, under contract with the Think Babies™ NC Alliance, Child Care Services Association (CCSA)  conducted a statewide and county-level study to assess the supply of infant-toddler care in North Carolina and the impact of COVID-19 on the infant-toddler child care landscape. This report combines a variety of data, surveys and focus groups to paint a picture of how our child care system is serving our youngest children and how things have changed from pre-pandemic, through 2020 and 2021, to today. The bottom line: infant-toddler child care is hard to find, hard to afford and hard to provide, creating huge challenges for babies, families, early educators and communities.

Durham County Preschool Supply and Demand Study

In the fall of 2017, Durham County contracted with CCSA to conduct a countywide assessment of the supply and demand of early care and education services in the County. This Supply and Demand report provides new information about parents and their current preschool choices and arrangements, as well as their preferences.

Who’s Caring for Our Babies? Early Care and Education in North Carolina

Since the previous Who’s Caring For Our Babies? report in 2008, the state of North Carolina has made great strides in improving the quality of care for children birth through five years of age. However, the improvement in quality and availability of care for infants and toddlers, while certainly better, has not been as great. This study examines care in 2016 and shows how it has changed since 2008.

The State of Child Care in the Triangle

CCSA works with child care providers and businesses to improve the quality of available child care by offering training, technical assistance, educational scholarships, nutrition resources, salary supplements and more. These reports are designed to further inform and educate all those invested in the availability, affordability and quality of area child care.

The State of Child Care in Region 12

For the first time, CCSA is pleased to provide a companion piece to our biannual Triangle report, addressing child care in the broader region in 2015.  This report provides data on Alamance, Caswell, Durham, Franklin, Granville, Orange, Person, Vance and Wake counties.  Like the Triangle report, this publication is intended to inform and educate the larger community on child care issues in the greater region beyond the Triangle.

Careers in Early Childhood: A North Carolina Directory

Find the right early childhood career for you! From child care providers to trainers, regulators and consultants, there is a wide variety of job opportunities available in the field of early childhood. This directory is intended to help you explore the many careers available in early childhood and learn more about the steps you might take to obtain a certain position. It also includes a list of local community colleges that offer programs in early childhood. If you would like to learn more about a particular career path or the educational resources available to help you along the way, contact CCSA at (919) 967-3272.

The Impact of the Recession on Child Care Centers in North Carolina

A statewide survey published by the North Carolina Child Care Resource & Referral Council (NC CCR&R) in September 2009: The Impact of the Recession on Child Care Centers in North Carolina.

North Carolina Early Childhood Systems Study

Child Care Services Association partnered with national researchers and experts in the North Carolina early care and education system to conduct the 2005 North Carolina Early Childhood Systems Study. We hope that the findings of the study will help you better understand the early care and education system that provides opportunities for children, families, businesses and our economy.

Required Attribution

Each number and quote should be attributed to Child Care Services Association with a footnote or in-text citation, rather than simply listing Child Care Services Association on a bibliography page.

Have questions? We can help!

Contact us.