U.S. Department of Education

Margaret Spellings 

Secretary

Institute of Education Sciences

Grover J. Whitehurst 

Director

National Center for Education Statistics

Mark Schneider 

Commissioner

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Suggested Citation

Iruka, I. U., and Carver, P. R. (2006). Initial Results From the 2005 NHES Early Childhood Program 

Participation Survey (NCES 2006-075). U.S. Department of Education. Washington, DC: National 

Center for Education Statistics. 

For ordering information on this report, write to 

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iii

Acknowledgments 

The authors would like to thank Chris Chapman and Gail Mulligan of the National Center for Education 

Statistics, and Frank Avenilla and Stacey Bielick of the American Institutes for Research, for their helpful 

suggestions and reviews of the report. We would also like to thank Marilyn Seastrom, James Griffin, 

Caroline Ebanks, John Wirt, and Valena Plisko for their invaluable help in reviewing this document. At 

Westat, we would like to thank Mary Hagedorn, the director of the NHES Program at Westat, Kevin 

O’Donnell, Patty Nicchitta, and Ying Long. Finally, we would like to thank the parents who provided the 

data upon which the report is based. 
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v

CONTENTS 

Page 

Acknowledgments ..................................................................................................................... iii 

List of Tables ....................................................................................................................... vi 

Highlights ............................................................................................................................ 1 

References .................................................................................................................................. 5 

Appendix A: Survey Methodology and Data Reliability ......................................................... 71 

Appendix B: Glossary ............................................................................................................... 75 
vi

LIST OF TABLES 

Table Page 

1. Percentage distribution of children from birth through age 5 and not yet 

in kindergarten participating in various weekly nonparental care 

arrangements, by child and family characteristics: 2005 ..................................... 7 

1-A Standard errors for the percentage distribution of children from birth 

through age 5 and not yet in kindergarten participating in various weekly 

nonparental care arrangements, by child and family characteristics: 2005 ......... 9 

2. Percentage of children from birth through age 5 and not yet in 

kindergarten participating in Head Start or Early Head Start on a weekly 

basis, by child and family characteristics: 2005 .................................................. 11 

2-A Standard errors for the percentage of children from birth through age 5 

and not yet in kindergarten participating in Head Start or Early Head 

Start on a weekly basis, by child and family characteristics: 2005 ...................... 13 

3. Percentage distribution of children from birth through age 5 and not yet 

in kindergarten whose parents reported various combinations of weekly 

care arrangements, by child and family characteristics: 2005 ............................. 15 

3-A. Standard errors for the percentage distribution of children from birth 

through age 5 and not yet in kindergarten whose parents reported various 

combinations of weekly care arrangements, by child and family 

characteristics: 2005 ............................................................................................ 17 

4. Percentage of children from birth through age 5 and not yet in 

kindergarten who receive weekly care from a relative, by type of relative 

and child and family characteristics: 2005 ........................................................... 19 

4-A. Standard errors for the percentage of children from birth through age 5 

and not yet in kindergarten who receive weekly care from a relative, by 

type of relative and child and family characteristics: 2005 ................................. 21 

5. Mean number of hours per week of care for children from birth through 

age 5 and not yet in kindergarten, by arrangement and child and family 

characteristics: 2005 ............................................................................................ 23 

5-A Standard errors for the mean number of hours per week of care for 

children from birth through age 5 and not yet in kindergarten, by 

arrangement and child and family characteristics: 2005 ...................................... 25 

6. Mean length of time (in months) that children from birth through age 5 

and not yet in kindergarten have been in current care, by arrangement 

and child and family characteristics: 2005 ........................................................... 27 
vii

LIST OF TABLES (Continued) 

Table Page 

6-A. Standard errors for the mean length of time (in months) that children 

from birth through age 5 and not yet in kindergarten have been in current 

care, by arrangement and child and family characteristics: 2005 ........................ 29 

7. Mean hourly out-of-pocket expense paid for weekly nonparental care 

arrangements that have any out-of-pocket cost for children from birth 

through age 5 and not yet in kindergarten, by child and family 

characteristics: 2005 ............................................................................................ 31 

7-A. Standard errors for the mean hourly out-of-pocket expense paid for 

weekly nonparental care arrangements that have any out-of-pocket cost 

for children from birth through age 5 and not yet in kindergarten, by 

child and family characteristics: 2005 ................................................................. 33 

8. Mean weekly out-of-pocket expense paid for weekly nonparental care 

arrangements that have any out-of-pocket cost for children from birth 

through age 5 and not yet in kindergarten, by child and family 

characteristics: 2005 ............................................................................................ 35 

8-A Standard errors for the mean weekly out-of-pocket expense paid for 

weekly nonparental care arrangements that have any out-of-pocket cost 

for children from birth through age 5 and not yet in kindergarten, by 

child and family characteristics: 2005 ................................................................. 37 

9. Percentage of children from birth through age 5 and not yet in 

kindergarten whose families are receiving assistance for child care costs, 

by type of weekly care arrangement and child and family characteristics: 

2005 ..................................................................................................................... 39 

9-A. Standard errors for the percentage of children from birth through age 5 

and not yet in kindergarten whose families are receiving assistance for 

child care costs, by type of weekly care arrangement and child and 

family characteristics: 2005 ................................................................................. 41 

10. Mean child-to-care provider ratio for children from birth through age 5 

and not yet in kindergarten in weekly nonparental care arrangements, by 

child and family characteristics: 2005 ................................................................. 43 

10-A. Standard errors for the mean child-to-care provider ratio for children 

from birth through age 5 and not yet in kindergarten in weekly 

nonparental care arrangements, by child and family characteristics: 2005 ......... 45 

11. Percentage of children from birth through age 5 and not yet in 

kindergarten whose parents reported various sources of information 

about child care providers, by arrangement type and child and family 

characteristics: 2005 ............................................................................................ 47 
viii

LIST OF TABLES (Continued) 

Table Page 

11-A. Standard errors for the percentage of children from birth through age 5 

and not yet in kindergarten whose parents reported various sources of 

information about child care providers, by arrangement type and child 

and family characteristics: 2005 .......................................................................... 49 

12. Percentage of children from birth through age 5 and not yet in 

kindergarten who receive sick child care, by arrangement type and child 

and family characteristics: 2005 .......................................................................... 51 

12-A Standard errors for the percentage of children from birth through age 5 

and not yet in kindergarten who receive sick child care, by arrangement 

type and child and family characteristics: 2005 ................................................... 53 

13. Percentage of children from birth through age 5 and not yet in 

kindergarten who received various health care services from a weekly 

center-based care provider, by Head Start designation and child and 

family characteristics: 2005 ................................................................................. 55 

13-A. Standard errors for the percentage of children from birth through age 5 

and not yet in kindergarten who received various health care services 

from a weekly center-based care provider, by Head Start designation and 

child and family characteristics: 2005 ................................................................. 57 

14. Percentage of children from birth through age 5 and not yet in 

kindergarten enrolled in a weekly center-based program at a specified 

location, by child and family characteristics: 2005 .............................................. 59 

14-A Standard errors for the percentage of children from birth through age 5 

and not yet in kindergarten enrolled in a weekly center-based program at 

a specified location, by child and family characteristics: 2005 ........................... 61 

15. Percentage of children from birth through age 5 and not yet in 

kindergarten whose parents rated factors used to select weekly care 

arrangement for children as “very important,” by child and family 

characteristics: 2005 ............................................................................................ 63 

15-A. Standard errors for the percentage of children from birth through age 5 

and not yet in kindergarten whose parents rated factors used to select 

weekly care arrangement for children as “very important,” by child and 

family characteristics: 2005 ................................................................................. 65 

16. Percentage of children from age 3 through age 5 and not yet in 

kindergarten whose parents reported participation in home activities with 

child in the past week, by type of involvement and child and family 

characteristics: 2005 ............................................................................................ 67 
ix

LIST OF TABLES (Continued) 

Table Page 

16-A. Standard errors for the percentage of children from age 3 through age 5 

and not yet in kindergarten whose parents reported participation in home 

activities with child in the past week, by type of involvement and child 

and family characteristics: 2005 .......................................................................... 69 

A-1. Poverty definition for Early Childhood Program Participation (ECPP) 

analysis: 2005 ...................................................................................................... 76 
x

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1

Highlights 

This report presents selected data on the nonparental care arrangements and educational programs of 

infants, toddlers, and preschool children, consisting of care by relatives, care by persons to whom 

they were not related, and participation in day care centers and preschool programs including Head 

Start or Early Head Start.1

 In addition, findings concerning home learning activities are presented. 

This report also incorporates basic demographic information about the child, parent/guardian 

characteristics, home activities, and household characteristics. These data are from the Early 

Childhood Program Participation Survey (ECPP) of the 2005 National Household Education Surveys 

Program (NHES:2005). Interviews were conducted with parents of a nationally representative sample 

of children from birth through age 6 who were not yet enrolled in kindergarten. Data were collected 

from early January through April 2005. The total number of completed ECPP interviews was 7,209, 

representing a weighted total of 20,690,936 children. However, 6-year-old preschoolers are atypical 

and too few in number to support separate estimates, and therefore they have been excluded from this 

report. The estimates presented here are based on 7,198 interviews representing 20,665,000 children. 

The weighted unit response rate was 84.4 percent, and the overall unit response rate was 56.4 

percent.2

 Additional details about the survey, response rates, and data reliability are provided in 

appendix A. 

For the ECPP, early childhood program participation was defined as nonparental child care 

arrangements in relative care, nonrelative care, and center-based programs, including Head Start or 

Early Head Start. In addition, the ECPP was designed to capture continuity of care, parents’ 

perceptions of the quality of care, reasons for choosing nonparental over parental care, and literacyrelated skills and activities. The ECPP in NHES:2005 was the fifth collection for this topic and 

provides current data on the early childhood program participation of infants, toddlers, and 

preschoolers. This data collection also provides an opportunity to examine trends over time in early 

childhood program participation. 

Results reported in the tables and bullets are weighted means and proportions generated by bivariate 

cross-tabulation procedures. All statements of comparison made in this report have been tested for 

statistical significance using two-tailed t-tests and are significant at the 95 percent confidence level. 

Additional details about statistical procedures used in this report are provided in the Statistical Tests 

section of appendix A. 

The purpose of this E.D. TAB is to introduce new NCES data through the presentation of selected 

descriptive information. The E.D. TAB is purely descriptive in nature. Readers are cautioned not to 

draw causal inferences based solely on the bivariate results presented in this E.D. TAB. It is 

important to note that many of the variables examined in this report are related to one another, and 

complex interactions and relationships have not been explored here. The variables examined here are 

also just a few of the variables that can be examined in these data and were selected to demonstrate 

the range of information that helped shape the design and now is available from the study. The 

selected findings are examples of comparisons that can be made using the data and are not designed 

to emphasize any particular issue. Release of the E.D. TAB is intended to encourage more in-depth 

analysis of the data, using more sophisticated statistical methods. 

Early Child Care and Program Participation 

Parents of sampled children from birth through age 5 not yet enrolled in kindergarten were asked 

whether their child was currently participating in nonparental child care, including relative, 

 

1 Early Head Start is a government-funded program for infants and toddlers from birth through age 2 and Head Start is a government-funded 

preschool program for children 3 through 5 years of age.

2 The overall unit response rate is the product of the household screening stage unit response rate and the ECPP interview unit response rate. For 

information about nonresponse bias analyses conducted for ECPP surveys, please see Brick et al. (forthcoming).
2

nonrelative, and center-based care. They were also asked if their child was currently participating in 

Head Start or Early Head Start, and had one or multiple child care arrangements. For parents who 

stated that the child had a weekly relative care arrangement, the relationship of the relative to the 

sampled child was also collected (i.e., grandparent, aunt/uncle, sibling, or other relative). 

 Approximately 60 percent of children were reported to be in at least one weekly nonparental 

care arrangement (table 1). Among these children, 60 percent were reported to be in centerbased care, 35 percent in relative care, and 22 percent in nonrelative care arrangements. 

 Children whose mothers did not complete high school were more likely to participate in Head 

Start or Early Head Start (table 2). The rate of participation among children whose mothers’ 

educational level was less than a high school diploma was 29 percent, compared to 15 percent 

among children whose mothers had a high school diploma or GED, 7 percent among children 

whose mothers had some college or vocational/technical schooling, 3 percent among those 

whose mothers completed a bachelor’s degree, and 2 percent among those whose mothers 

had some graduate education or had completed a graduate or professional degree (table 2). 

 Participation in multiple nonparental care arrangements was higher among children in 

families in which both parents or the only parent spoke English (17 percent) than among 

children in families in which no parent spoke English (8 percent) (table 3). 

 Among children who had a weekly relative care arrangement, 76 percent were cared for by 

grandparents, compared to 19 percent who were cared for by aunts and uncles and 13 percent 

whose care was provided by other relatives (table 4). 

Number of Hours and Length of Time in Child Care 

Parents of sampled children from birth through age 5 and not yet in kindergarten were asked the 

number of hours per week and the length of time their child participated in each current weekly 

nonparental care arrangement, including relative, nonrelative, and center-based care arrangements. 

 Children spent more hours per week in nonrelative care (26.7 hours per week) than in relative 

care (24.3 hours per week) or center-based care (24.8 hours per week) (table 5). 

 Children whose mothers were not in the labor force had spent less time in relative child care 

(3.4 months) than children whose mothers worked 35 or more hours per week (7.6 months), 

less than 35 hours per week (8.5 months), or were looking for work (9.6 months) (table 6).

Child Care Costs and Sources of Assistance 

Parents of sampled children from birth through age 5 and not yet in kindergarten were asked whether 

they had any out-of-pocket expenses for the child’s weekly nonparental child care arrangement. They 

were also asked if they received assistance for these expenses from relatives, Temporary Assistance 

for Needy Families (TANF),3

 other social service agencies, an employer, or someone else. 

 Considering children whose families paid fees for nonparental care arrangements, the mean 

hourly out-of-pocket expense for center-based care was lower for Black, non-Hispanic 

 

3 In 1997, Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) replaced the previous welfare programs, Aid to Families with Dependent Children 

(AFDC) and the Job Opportunities and Basic Skills Training (JOBS) programs. TANF provides assistance and work opportunities to needy 

families by granting states the federal funds to develop and implement their own welfare programs. 
3

children ($3.00) than for White, non-Hispanic ($4.47), Hispanic ($4.59), Asian or Pacific 

Islander, non-Hispanic ($4.85), or other race, non-Hispanic children ($4.52) (table 7). 

 Children in nonrelative care whose mothers worked 35 or more hours per week had a mean 

weekly expense of $115.71, compared to $88.24 for children whose mothers worked less than 

35 hours per week (table 8). 

 Families were more likely to receive assistance with child care expenses when mothers were 

enrolled in school (32 percent) than when mothers were not enrolled in school (16 percent) 

(table 9). 

Characteristics of Child Care Arrangements 

To ascertain particular aspects of children’s care arrangements, parents whose children were in any 

nonparental care arrangement were asked the following: how many children were cared for together 

in the same group at the same time and how many adults cared for the child in a particular care 

arrangement, how they learned about a particular care arrangement, and whether their arrangement 

included care for a sick child when he or she had a fever or did not have a fever. For children who 

were reported to be in a weekly center-based arrangement, parents were asked where the program was 

located and whether that program provided any of the following services: hearing, speech, or vision 

testing; physical examinations; or formal testing for developmental or learning problems. 

 Children who were in center-based care experienced a higher mean child-to-care provider 

ratio (6.0) than children in relative care (1.6) or nonrelative care (3.1) (table 10). 

 Among children with nonparental care arrangements, more children had parents who learned 

about their child’s care provider from friends (54 percent) than from any other source, 

including their place of employment (5 percent), a public or private school (6 percent), a 

place of worship (6 percent), ads (8 percent), someone they knew (8 percent), an arrangement 

attended by another child in the household (6 percent), bulletin boards/flyers/drove by/walked 

by (7 percent), or any other sources (17 percent) (table 11). 

 Children with center-based care arrangements who were sick were less likely to receive child 

care from their providers during an illness (29 percent without a fever and 6 percent with a 

fever) than children with relative care arrangements (91 percent without a fever and 75 

percent with a fever) or nonrelative care arrangements (83 percent and 39 percent with a 

fever) (table 12). 

 Among children who attended center-based care on a weekly basis, those in Head Start or 

Early Head Start programs were more likely to have received hearing, speech, or vision 

testing from their center-based program than children in other kinds of programs (72 percent 

compared to 31 percent) (table 13). Similar differences were found for center-provided 

physical examinations (36 percent compared to 6 percent, and formal testing for 

developmental or learning problems (74 percent compared to 28 percent) (table 13). 

 Children were more likely to attend a center-based care arrangement that was located in a 

building of its own (38 percent) than a center-based care arrangement found in any other 

location, including in a church, synagogue, or other place of worship (25 percent), a public 

school (17 percent), a private school (9 percent), community center (3 percent), or any other 

location (10 percent) (table 14). 
4

Factors Used to Select Child Care Arrangement 

For arrangements where the child spent the most time, parents were asked to rate how particular 

factors influenced their choice of a child care arrangement (1 = not at all important; 2 = a little 

important; 3 = somewhat important; and 4 = very important). The factors that parents were asked to 

rate were location, cost, reliability, learning activities, time spent with other children, availability of 

provider, and number of other children in the child care arrangement. 

 Among children who had some kind of weekly nonparental care, parents of children in 

weekly center-based care reported that spending time with other children was a very 

important factor when selecting a child care arrangement (82 percent) compared to parents 

with children in a weekly relative care arrangement (39 percent) or a weekly nonrelative care 

arrangement (53 percent) (table 15). 

 Among children less than 1 year of age who were in some kind of nonparental care 

arrangement, 65 percent had parents who rated learning activities as a “very important” factor 

when selecting the care arrangement. This percentage increased among older children—70 

percent among parents of 1- to 2-year-olds, and 81 percent among parents of 3- to 5-year-olds 

(table 15). 

Parental Involvement in Preschoolers’ Educational Activities at Home 

Parents were asked whether anyone in their family had engaged in particular home activities with the 

sampled child in the past week, including reading; telling a story; teaching letters, words, or numbers; 

teaching songs or music; and working on arts and crafts. 

 More Asian or Pacific Islander, non-Hispanic preschoolers (age 3 to 5 and not yet enrolled in 

kindergarten) were told a story by a family member (91 percent) than Black, non-Hispanic 

preschoolers (82 percent) or Hispanic preschoolers (84 percent) (table 16). 

 More preschoolers (age 3 to 5 and not yet enrolled in kindergarten) in families where both 

parents or the only parent spoke English were read to by family members in the previous 

week (99 percent) than children in families where no parent spoke English (89 percent) (table 

16). 
5

References 

Brick, J.M., Montaquila, J.M., Hagedorn, M., Li, L., and Seastrom, M. (forthcoming). An Analysis of 

Nonresponse Bias in the 2001 National Household Education Surveys Program (NHES:2001). 

Technical Report. (NCES 2005-xxx). U.S. Department of Education, National Center for 

Education Statistics. Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office. 

Demaio, T.J. (1984). Social Desirability and Survey Measurement: A Review. In C.F. Turner and E. 

Martin (Eds.), Surveying Subjective Phenomena (pp. 257-281). New York: Russell Sage. 

Montaquila, J.M., Brick, J.M., and Brock, S.P. (1997). Undercoverage Bias in Estimates of 

Characteristics of Households and Adults in the 1996 National Household Education Survey 

(NCES 97-39). U.S. Department of Education. Washington, DC: National Center for Education 

Statistics. 

Rao, J.N.K., and Shao, J. (1992). Jackknife Variance Estimation with Survey Data under Hot Deck 

Imputation. Biometrika, 79(4): 811–822. 

Westat. (2000). WesVar 4.0 User's Guide. Rockville, MD: Author.
6

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7

Table 1. Percentage distribution of children from birth through age 5 and not yet in kindergarten participating in various 

care arrangements, by child and family characteristics: 2005 

Distribution of weekly nonparental care arrangement, 

Characteristic 

Number of 

children 

(thousands) 

No weekly 

nonparental care 

arrangement 

At least one 

weekly 

nonparental care 

arrangement Relative Nonrelative C

Total ........................................................................... 20,665 40 60 35 22 

Child’s age  Less than 1 year 3,519 58 42 48 33  1-2 years........................................................................ 8,080 47 53 39 30  3-5 years........................................................................ 9,066 27 73 29 15 Child’s sex Male .............................................................................. 10,598 40 60 33 22  Female........................................................................... 10,067 41 59 37 23 Child’s race/ethnicity  White, non-Hispanic .................................................... 11,488 38 62 32 26  Black, non-Hispanic..................................................... 2,962 31 69 38 15  Hispanic ........................................................................ 4,283 51 49 41 20  Asian or Pacific Islander, 

non-Hispanic ......................................................... 655 47 53 30 14 

 Other race, non-Hispanic3............................................ 1,278 40 60 43 15 

Family type  Two parents .................................................................. 16,294 44 56 31 24  One parent..................................................................... 4,036 27 73 46 18  Nonparent guardian(s) ................................................. 335 36 64 42 16 

Parents’ language spoken most at home4

Both/only parent(s) speak(s) English ......................... 17,620 37 63 35 23 One of two parents speaks English ............................. 565 63 37 29 11 No parent speaks English ............................................ 2,480 58 42 32 21 

Mother’s level of education5

 Less than a high school................................................ 2,067 65 35 43 15 

 High school/GED......................................................... 5,689 45 55 42 18 

 Vocational/technical or some college......................... 5,663 38 62 38 22  Bachelor’s degree......................................................... 4,321 34 66 26 23  Graduate or professional education or degree............ 2,570 26 74 26 33 Mother’s school enrollment status5

 Enrolled......................................................................... 2,502 24 76 38 18  Not enrolled.................................................................. 17,808 43 57 34 23 

See notes at end of table. 
8

Table 1. Percentage distribution of children from birth through age 5 and not yet in kindergarten participating in various 

care arrangements, by child and family characteristics: 2005—continued 

Distribution of weekly nonparental care arrangement, 

Characteristic 

Number of 

children 

(thousands) 

No weekly 

nonparental care 

arrangement 

At least one 

weekly 

nonparental care 

arrangement Relative Nonrelative C

Mother’s employment status5

 35 or more hours per week .......................................... 7,168 15 85 36 27 

 Less than 35 hours per week ....................................... 4,329 31 69 42 25 

 Looking for work ......................................................... 1,459 55 45 42 16 

 Not in the labor force ................................................... 7,353 68 32 20 10 Mother’s work shift5, 6

 Regular shift ................................................................. 9,787 18 82 37 27  Variable shift ................................................................ 1,711 37 63 47 24 Neighborhood conditions7

 Concern regarding neighborhood health and 

safety conditions................................................... 3,365 40 60 40 21 

 No concern regarding neighborhood health and 

safety conditions................................................... 17,300 40 60 34 23 

Household income

 $25,000 or less.............................................................. 5,912 49 51 43 16 

 $25,001 to $50,000 ...................................................... 5,256 47 53 42 19 

 $50,001 to $75,000 ...................................................... 4,307 39 61 31 27  $75,001 to $100,000 .................................................... 2,445 27 73 26 26 

 $100,001 or more ......................................................... 2,746 21 79 26 27 

Poverty status8

 At or above poverty threshold..................................... 15,900 37 63 33 24 

 Below poverty threshold.............................................. 4,766 51 49 44 16 

1Children may have more than one nonparental care arrangement of the same type or more than one nonparental care arrangement of different types. 2Center-based arrangements include day care centers, Head Start programs, preschools, prekindergartens, and other early childhood programs.

3“Other race, non-Hispanic” includes children who were multiracial and not of Hispanic ethnicity, or who were American Indian or Alaska Native, or were not Hispanic, White, Bla

4Complete descriptions of the categories for parents’ language are as follows: (1) “Both/only parent(s) learned English as child(ren) or currently speak(s) English in the home,” (2) 

child or currently speaks English in the home,” and (3) “No parent learned English as a child and both/only parent(s) currently speak(s) a non-English language in the home.”

5Children without mothers living in the household are not included in estimates related to mother’s education, enrollment, employment status, or work shift.

6Work shifts were collapsed into two categories: regular and variable work shifts. A regular work shift is one with set hours. A variable shift is one that changes from days to even

hours are set by the employer or the employee.

7Parents or guardians respond “yes” or “no” to the question: “Are there any conditions in your neighborhood that make you worried about the health or safety of ((CHILD)/any of the 8Children are considered poor if they were living in households with incomes below the poverty threshold, which is a dollar amount determined by the federal government to meet t

composition. NOTE: Estimates include children from birth through age 5 and not yet in kindergarten. Detail may not sum to totals because of rounding. SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Early Childhood Program Participation Survey of the National Household Education Surveys Pr
9

Table 1-A. Standard errors for the percentage distribution of children from birth through age 5 and not yet in kindergart

various weekly nonparental care arrangements, by child and family characteristics: 2005 

Distribution of weekly nonparental care arrangement, 

Characteristic 

Number of 

children 

(thousands) 

No weekly 

nonparental care 

arrangement 

At least one 

weekly 

nonparental care 

arrangement Relative Nonrelative C

Total ............................................................................... 9.0 0.8 0.8 1.0 0.8 

Child’s age 

Less than 1 year # 1.8 1.8 2.9 2.4 

1-2 years............................................................................ # 1.4 1.4 1.7 1.5 

3-5 years............................................................................ 9.0 0.9 0.9 1.3 1.0 

Child’s sex

Male .................................................................................. 143.3 0.9 0.9 1.3 1.0 

Female............................................................................... 143.9 1.2 1.2 1.4 1.3 

Child’s race/ethnicity 

White, non-Hispanic ........................................................ 99.2 1.0 1.0 1.3 1.2 Black, non-Hispanic......................................................... 5.2 2.7 2.7 3.4 1.9 

Hispanic ............................................................................ 4.1 1.4 1.4 2.0 1.8 

Asian or Pacific Islander, non-Hispanic ......................... 52.7 4.1 4.1 5.9 3.3 Other race, non-Hispanic3................................................ 93.5 3.5 3.5 4.3 2.9 

Family type 

Two parents ...................................................................... 113.8 0.9 0.9 1.2 0.9 

One parent......................................................................... 112.3 1.7 1.7 2.8 1.8 

Nonparent guardian(s) ..................................................... 39.3 5.2 5.2 6.8 5.3 

Parents’ language spoken most at home4

Both/only parent(s) speak(s) English ............................. 100.7 0.8 0.8 1.1 0.9 One of two parents speaks English ................................. 58.7 4.4 4.4 5.3 3.7 No parent speaks English ................................................ 87.7 2.0 2.0 2.7 2.4 

Mother’s level of education5

Less than a high school.................................................... 99.7 2.2 2.2 4.0 3.0 

High school/GED............................................................. 179.6 1.7 1.7 2.2 1.7 

Vocational/technical or some college............................. 158.4 1.8 1.8 1.8 1.8 

Bachelor’s degree............................................................. 116.7 1.4 1.4 1.9 1.6 

Graduate or professional education or degree................ 121.1 1.7 1.7 2.3 2.5 

Mother’s school enrollment status5

Enrolled............................................................................. 128.4 1.9 1.9 2.4 1.8 

Not enrolled...................................................................... 140.7 0.9 0.9 1.1 1.0 

See notes at end of table. 
10

Table 1-A. Standard errors for the percentage distribution of children from birth through age 5 and not yet in kindergart

various weekly nonparental care arrangements, by child and family characteristics: 2005—continued 

Distribution of weekly nonparental care arrangement, 

Characteristic 

Number of 

children 

(thousands) 

No weekly 

nonparental care 

arrangement 

At least one 

weekly 

nonparental care 

arrangement Relative Nonrelative C

Mother’s employment status5

35 or more hours per week ............................................... 181.6 1.1 1.1 1.5 1.3 

Less than 35 hours per week ............................................ 157.7 2.1 2.1 1.8 1.8 

Looking for work .............................................................. 118.5 4.4 4.4 8.2 3.9 

Not in the labor force ........................................................ 171.3 1.1 1.1 1.9 1.1 

Mother’s work shift5, 6

Regular shift ...................................................................... 193.4 1.0 1.0 1.2 1.1 

Variable shift ..................................................................... 103.9 2.8 2.8 3.5 3.0 

Neighborhood conditions7

Concern regarding neighborhood health and safety 

conditions ................................................................... 175.2 2.4 2.4 3.3 2.5 

No concern regarding neighborhood health and 

safety conditions........................................................ 174.8 0.9 0.9 1.0 1.0 

Household income

$25,000 or less................................................................... 1.1 1.6 1.6 2.3 1.5 

$25,001 to $50,000 ........................................................... 112.1 1.5 1.5 2.2 2.0 

$50,001 to $75,000 ........................................................... 108.9 1.5 1.5 2.2 2.0 

$75,001 to $100,000 ......................................................... 114.9 2.3 2.3 2.0 1.9 

$100,001 or more .............................................................. 115.1 1.6 1.6 2.3 2.2 

Poverty status8

At or above poverty threshold.......................................... 60.9 0.9 0.9 1.1 1.0 

Below poverty threshold................................................... 60.7 1.9 1.9 2.9 1.9 

#Rounds to zero. 1Children may have more than one nonparental care arrangement of the same type or more than one nonparental care arrangement of different types. 2Center-based arrangements include day care centers, Head Start programs, preschools, prekindergartens, and other early childhood programs.

3“Other race, non-Hispanic” includes children who were multiracial and not of Hispanic ethnicity, or who were American Indian or Alaska Native, or were not Hispanic, White, Bla

4Complete descriptions of the categories for parents’ language are as follows: (1) “Both/only parent(s) learned English as child(ren) or currently speak(s) English in the home,” (2) 

child or currently speaks English in the home,” and (3) “No parent learned English as a child and both/only parent(s) currently speak(s) a non-English language in the home.”

5Children without mothers living in the household are not included in estimates related to mother’s education, enrollment, employment status, or work shift.

6Work shifts were collapsed into two categories: regular and variable work shifts. A regular work shift is one with set hours. A variable shift is one that changes from days to even

hours are set by the employer or the employee.

7Parents or guardians respond “yes” or “no” to the question: “Are there any conditions in your neighborhood that make you worried about the health or safety of ((CHILD)/any of the 8Children are considered poor if they were living in households with incomes below the poverty threshold, which is a dollar amount determined by the federal government to meet t

composition. NOTE: Estimates include children from birth through age 5 and not yet in kindergarten. Detail may not sum to totals because of rounding. SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Early Childhood Program Participation Survey of the National Household Education Surveys Pr
11

Table 2. Percentage of children from birth through age 5 and not yet in kindergarten participating in Head Start or Early 

weekly basis, by child and family characteristics: 2005 

Characteristic Number of children (thousands) Percentage participating in Head S

Total ................................................................................................................... 12,344 

Child’s age  Less than 1 year.................................................................................................... 1,471  1-2 years................................................................................................................ 4,262  3-5 years................................................................................................................ 6,611 Child’s sex

 Male ...................................................................................................................... 6,411  Female................................................................................................................... 5,934 Child’s race/ethnicity  White, non-Hispanic ............................................................................................ 7,088  Black, non-Hispanic............................................................................................. 2,039  Hispanic ................................................................................................................ 2,096  Asian or Pacific Islander, non-Hispanic ............................................................. 348 

 Other race, non-Hispanic1.................................................................................... 773 

Family type  Two parents .......................................................................................................... 9,168  One parent............................................................................................................. 2,961  Nonparent guardian(s) ......................................................................................... 216 

Parents’ language spoken most at home2

Both/only parent(s) speak(s) English ................................................................. 11,090 

One of two parents speaks English ..................................................................... 210 

No parent speaks English .................................................................................... 1,044 

Mother’s level of education3

 Less than a high school........................................................................................ 730 

 High school/GED................................................................................................. 3,104  Vocational/technical or some college................................................................. 3,504  Bachelor’s degree................................................................................................. 2,845  Graduate or professional education or degree................................................... 1,905 Mother’s school enrollment status3

 Enrolled................................................................................................................. 1,894  Not enrolled.......................................................................................................... 10,194 

See notes at end of table. 
12

Table 2. Percentage of children from birth through age 5 and not yet in kindergarten participating in Head Start or Early 

weekly basis, by child and family characteristics: 2005—continued 

Characteristic Number of children (thousands) Percentage participating in Head Mother’s employment status3

 35 or more hours per week .................................................................................. 6,078 

 Less than 35 hours per week ............................................................................... 2,978  Looking for work ................................................................................................. 652 

 Not in the labor force ........................................................................................... 2,380 

Mother’s work shift3, 4

 Regular shift ......................................................................................................... 7,985 

 Variable shift ........................................................................................................ 1,071 Neighborhood conditions5

 Concern regarding neighborhood health and safety conditions........................ 2,018 

 No concern regarding neighborhood health and safety conditions................... 10,327 

Household income  $25,000 or less...................................................................................................... 3,008 

 $25,001 to $50,000 .............................................................................................. 2,767  $50,001 to $75,000 .............................................................................................. 2,635  $75,001 to $100,000 ............................................................................................ 1,775 

 $100,001 or more.................................................................................................. 2,159 Poverty status6

 At or above poverty threshold ............................................................................. 10,017 

 Below poverty threshold ...................................................................................... 2,328 

#Rounds to zero. 1“Other race, non-Hispanic” includes children who were multiracial and not of Hispanic ethnicity, or who were American Indian or Alaska Native, or were not Hispanic, White, Bla2Complete descriptions of the categories for parents’ language are as follows: (1) “Both/only parent(s) learned English as child(ren) or currently speak(s) English in the home,” (2) 

child or currently speaks English in the home,” and (3) “No parent learned English as a child and both/only parent(s) currently speak(s) a non-English language in the home.”

3Children without mothers living in the household are not included in estimates related to mother’s education, enrollment, employment status, or work shift.

4Work shifts were collapsed into two categories: regular and variable work shifts. A regular work shift is one with set hours. A variable shift is one that changes from days to even

hours are set by the employer or the employee.

5Parents or guardians respond “yes” or “no” to the question: “Are there any conditions in your neighborhood that make you worried about the health or safety of ((CHILD)/any of the 6Children are considered poor if they were living in households with incomes below the poverty threshold, which is a dollar amount determined by the federal government to meet t

composition. NOTE: Estimates include children from birth through age 5 and not yet in kindergarten who have at least one weekly nonparental care arrangement. Detail may not sum to totals beSOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Early Childhood Program Participation Survey of the National Household Education Surveys Pr
13

Table 2-A. Standard errors for the percentage of children from birth through age 5 and not yet in kindergarten participa

Early Head Start on a weekly basis, by child and family characteristics: 2005 

Characteristic Number of children (thousands) Percentage participating in Head S

Total ................................................................................................................ 158.5 

Child’s age 

Less than 1 year................................................................................................. 64.8 1-2 years............................................................................................................. 110.5 

3-5 years............................................................................................................. 84.0 

Child’s sex

Male ................................................................................................................... 143.2 

Female................................................................................................................ 145.4 

Child’s race/ethnicity 

White, non-Hispanic ......................................................................................... 119.6 

Black, non-Hispanic.......................................................................................... 79.0 Hispanic ............................................................................................................. 60.4 Asian or Pacific Islander, non-Hispanic .......................................................... 36.2 Other race, non-Hispanic1................................................................................. 63.5 

Family type 

Two parents ....................................................................................................... 156.1 

One parent.......................................................................................................... 113.2 

Nonparent guardian(s) ...................................................................................... 29.5 

Parents’ language spoken most at home2

Both/only parent(s) speak(s) English .............................................................. 158.1 One of two parents speaks English .................................................................. 29.9 No parent speaks English ................................................................................. 64.2 

Mother’s level of education3

Less than a high school..................................................................................... 52.8 High school/GED.............................................................................................. 132.6 

Vocational/technical or some college.............................................................. 148.5 

Bachelor’s degree.............................................................................................. 102.0 

Graduate or professional education or degree................................................ 107.6 

Mother’s school enrollment status3

Enrolled.............................................................................................................. 104.5 

Not enrolled....................................................................................................... 181.8 

See notes at end of table. 
14

Table 2-A. Standard errors for the percentage of children from birth through age 5 and not yet in kindergarten participa

Early Head Start on a weekly basis, by child and family characteristics: 2005—continued 

Characteristic Number of children (thousands) Percentage participating in Head SMother’s employment status3

35 or more hours per week ............................................................................... 171.2 Less than 35 hours per week ............................................................................ 128.2 Looking for work .............................................................................................. 95.2 Not in the labor force ........................................................................................ 105.9 

Mother’s work shift3, 4

Regular shift ...................................................................................................... 174.6 Variable shift ..................................................................................................... 83.1 

Neighborhood conditions5

Concern regarding neighborhood health and safety conditions..................... 150.2 No concern regarding neighborhood health and safety conditions................ 169.5 

Household income 

$25,000 or less................................................................................................... 96.8 $25,001 to $50,000 ........................................................................................... 97.0 

$50,001 to $75,000 ........................................................................................... 87.5 

$75,001 to $100,000 ......................................................................................... 93.3 

$100,001 or more............................................................................................... 105.7 

Poverty status6

At or above poverty threshold .......................................................................... 140.8 

Below poverty threshold ................................................................................... 94.5 

#Rounds to zero. 1“Other race, non-Hispanic” includes children who were multiracial and not of Hispanic ethnicity, or who were American Indian or Alaska Native, or were not Hispanic, White, Bla2Complete descriptions of the categories for parents’ language are as follows: (1) “Both/only parent(s) learned English as child(ren) or currently speak(s) English in the home,” (2) 

child or currently speaks English in the home,” and (3) “No parent learned English as a child and both/only parent(s) currently speak(s) a non-English language in the home.”

3Children without mothers living in the household are not included in estimates related to mother’s education, enrollment, employment status, or work shift.

4Work shifts were collapsed into two categories: regular and variable work shifts. A regular work shift is one with set hours. A variable shift is one that changes from days to even

hours are set by the employer or the employee.

5Parents or guardians respond “yes” or “no” to the question: “Are there any conditions in your neighborhood that make you worried about the health or safety of ((CHILD)/any of the 6Children are considered poor if they were living in households with incomes below the poverty threshold, which is a dollar amount determined by the federal government to meet t

composition. NOTE: Estimates include children from birth through age 5 and not yet in kindergarten who have at least one weekly nonparental care arrangement. Detail may not sum to totals beSOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Early Childhood Program Participation Survey of the National Household Education Surveys Pr
15

Table 3. Percentage distribution of children from birth through age 5 and not yet in kindergarten whose parents reported 

of weekly care arrangements, by child and family characteristics: 2005 

Characteristic 

Number of children 

(thousands) 

One relative 

arrangement only 

One nonrelative 

arrangement only 

One center-based 

program only1

More th

nonp

arrangement of 

Total ...................................................................... 12,344 20 14 45 

Child’s age  Less than 1 year....................................................... 1,471 36 27 23  1-2 years................................................................... 4,262 25 21 36  3-5 years................................................................... 6,611 12 6 55 Child’s sex Male ......................................................................... 6,411 19 13 46  Female...................................................................... 5,934 20 14 43 Child’s race/ethnicity  White, non-Hispanic ............................................... 7,088 16 16 45  Black, non-Hispanic................................................ 2,039 23 9 49  Hispanic ................................................................... 2,096 28 13 40  Asian or Pacific Islander, 

non-Hispanic .................................................... 348 17 9 55 

 Other race, non-Hispanic4....................................... 773 26 7 43 

Family type  Two parents ............................................................. 9,168 18 15 47  One parent................................................................ 2,961 26 10 39  Nonparent guardian(s) ............................................ 216 14 8! 44 

Parents’ language spoken most at home5

Both/only parent(s) speak(s) English .................... 11,090 19 14 44 One of two parents speaks English ........................ 210 22 7 62 No parent speaks English ....................................... 1,044 24 15 48 

Mother’s level of education6

 Less than a high school........................................... 730 31 10 44 

 High school/GED.................................................... 3,104 25 11 42  Vocational/technical or some college.................... 3,504 23 14 42  Bachelor’s degree.................................................... 2,845 12 15 52  Graduate or professional education or 

degree................................................................ 1,905 11 18 45 

Mother’s school enrollment status6

 Enrolled.................................................................... 1,894 20 11 46 

 Not enrolled............................................................. 10,194 19 15 45 

See notes at end of table. 
16

Table 3. Percentage distribution of children from birth through age 5 and not yet in kindergarten whose parents reported 

of weekly care arrangements, by child and family characteristics: 2005—continued 

Characteristic 

Number of children 

(thousands) 

One relative 

arrangement only 

One nonrelative 

arrangement only 

One center-based 

program only1

More t

nonp

arrangement of 

Mother’s employment status6 35 or more hours per week.................................... 6,078 20 17 39  Less than 35 hours per week .................................. 2,978 23 14 37  Looking for work .................................................... 652 28 12 44  Not in the labor force .............................................. 2,380 13 6 69 Mother’s work shift6, 7

 Regular shift ............................................................ 7,985 20 17 39  Variable shift ........................................................... 1,071 22 13 33 Neighborhood conditions8

 Concern regarding neighborhood health and 

safety conditions.............................................. 2,018 26 13 42 

 No concern regarding neighborhood health 

and safety conditions ....................................... 10,327 18 14 45 

Household income  $25,000 or less......................................................... 3,008 27 9 43 

 $25,001 to $50,000 ................................................. 2,767 27 11 40 

 $50,001 to $75,000 ................................................. 2,635 16 19 44 

 $75,001 to $100,000 ............................................... 1,775 13 19 47 

 $100,001 or more..................................................... 2,159 10 13 52 

Poverty status9

 At or above poverty threshold ................................ 10,017 18 15 45  Below poverty threshold ......................................... 2,328 28 9 43 

!Interpret data with caution; coefficient of variation is 50 percent or more. 1Center-based arrangements include day care centers, Head Start programs, preschools, prekindergartens, and other early childhood programs. 2Estimates include more than one arrangement of a given type (e.g., two relative arrangements).

3Estimates include any combination of relative care, nonrelative care, and center-based programs, but only one arrangement of a given type (e.g., one nonrelative arrangement, or on

4“Other race, non-Hispanic” includes children who were multiracial and not of Hispanic ethnicity, or who were American Indian or Alaska Native, or were not Hispanic, White, Bla5Complete descriptions of the categories for parents’ language are as follows: (1) “Both/only parent(s) learned English as child(ren) or currently speak(s) English in the home,” (2) 

child or currently speaks English in the home,” and (3) “No parent learned English as a child and both/only parent(s) currently speak(s) a non-English language in the home.”

6Children without mothers living in the household are not included in estimates related to mother’s education, enrollment, employment status, or work shift.

7Work shifts were collapsed into two categories: regular and variable work shifts. A regular work shift is one with set hours. A variable shift is one that changes from days to even

hours are set by the employer or the employee.

8Parents or guardians respond “yes” or “no” to the question: “Are there any conditions in your neighborhood that make you worried about the health or safety of ((CHILD)/any of the 9Children are considered poor if they were living in households with incomes below the poverty threshold, which is a dollar amount determined by the federal government to meet t

composition. NOTE: Estimates include children from birth through 5 years of age, and not yet in kindergarten, with at least one weekly nonparental care arrangement. Detail may not sum to tota

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Early Childhood Program Participation Survey of the National Household Education Surveys Pr
17

Table 3-A. Standard errors for the percentage distribution of children from birth through age 5 and not yet in kindergart

reported various combinations of weekly care arrangements, by child and family characteristics: 2005 

Characteristic 

Number of children 

(thousands) 

One relative 

arrangement only 

One nonrelative 

arrangement only 

One center-based 

program only1

More than one nonp

arrangement of a singl

Total ...................................................................... 158.5 0.9 0.7 0.9 

Child’s age 

Less than 1 year....................................................... 64.8 2.6 2.4 2.3 

1-2 years................................................................... 110.5 1.6 1.4 1.6 

3-5 years................................................................... 84.0 1.1 0.7 1.2 

Child’s sex

Male ......................................................................... 143.2 1.2 0.8 1.3 

Female...................................................................... 145.4 1.1 1.1 1.4 

Child’s race/ethnicity 

White, non-Hispanic ............................................... 119.6 1.0 0.9 1.3 

Black, non-Hispanic................................................ 79.0 3.5 1.5 3.3 

Hispanic ................................................................... 60.4 1.9 1.5 1.9 

Asian or Pacific Islander, 

non-Hispanic .................................................... 36.2 4.9 2.3 5.9 

Other race, non-Hispanic4....................................... 63.5 3.5 1.7 4.7 

Family type 

Two parents ............................................................. 156.1 0.9 0.8 1.1 

One parent................................................................ 113.2 2.9 1.5 2.6 

Nonparent guardian(s) ............................................ 29.5 5.1 4.0! 7.5 

Parents’ language spoken most at home5

Both/only parent(s) speak(s) English .................... 158.1 1.0 0.7 0.9 One of two parents speaks English ........................ 29.9 4.7 3.0 6.3 No parent speaks English ....................................... 64.2 2.7 2.1 3.0 

Mother’s level of education6

Less than a high school........................................... 52.8 3.7 2.2 4.1 

High school/GED.................................................... 132.6 1.7 1.4 2.1 

Vocational/technical or some college.................... 148.5 2.0 1.3 1.9 

Bachelor’s degree.................................................... 102.0 1.4 1.3 2.0 

Graduate or professional education or 

degree................................................................ 107.6 1.4 2.2 2.2 

Mother’s school enrollment status6

Enrolled.................................................................... 104.5 2.0 1.7 2.7 

Not enrolled............................................................. 181.8 1.1 0.8 1.0 

See notes at end of table. 
18

Table 3-A. Standard errors for the percentage distribution of children from birth through age 5 and not yet in kindergart

reported various combinations of weekly care arrangements, by child and family characteristics: 2005—contin

Characteristic 

Number of children 

(thousands) 

One relative 

arrangement only 

One nonrelative 

arrangement only 

One center-based 

program only1

More t

nonp

arrangement of 

Mother’s employment status6

 35 or more hours per week.................................... 171.2 1.2 1.0 1.4 

Less than 35 hours per week .................................. 128.2 1.6 1.4 1.7 

Looking for work .................................................... 95.2 9.9 3.7 6.5 

Not in the labor force .............................................. 105.9 1.6 0.8 1.9 

Mother’s work shift6, 7

Regular shift ............................................................ 174.6 1.1 0.9 1.1 

Variable shift ........................................................... 83.1 3.0 2.2 3.8 

Neighborhood conditions8

Concern regarding neighborhood health and 

safety conditions.............................................. 150.2 3.5 2.1 2.8 

No concern regarding neighborhood health 

and safety conditions ....................................... 169.5 0.8 0.7 1.0 

Household income 

$25,000 or less......................................................... 96.8 2.3 1.2 2.6 

$25,001 to $50,000 ................................................. 97.0 2.0 1.4 2.1 $50,001 to $75,000 ................................................. 87.5 1.6 1.9 2.0 $75,001 to $100,000 ............................................... 93.3 1.7 1.6 2.3 

$100,001 or more..................................................... 105.7 1.1 1.5 2.3 

Poverty status9

At or above poverty threshold ................................ 140.8 0.9 0.8 1.0 

Below poverty threshold ......................................... 94.5 3.0 1.4 3.0 

!Interpret data with caution; coefficient of variation is 50 percent or more.

1Center-based arrangements include day care centers, Head Start programs, preschools, prekindergartens, and other early childhood programs. 

2Estimates include more than one arrangement of a given type (e.g., two relative arrangements).

3Estimates include any combination of relative care, nonrelative care, and center-based programs, but only one arrangement of a given type (e.g., one nonrelative arrangement, or on

4“Other race, non-Hispanic” includes children who were multiracial and not of Hispanic ethnicity, or who were American Indian or Alaska Native, or were not Hispanic, White, Bla5Complete descriptions of the categories for parents’ language are as follows: (1) “Both/only parent(s) learned English as child(ren) or currently speak(s) English in the home,” (2) 

child or currently speaks English in the home,” and (3) “No parent learned English as a child and both/only parent(s) currently speak(s) a non-English language in the home.”

6Children without mothers living in the household are not included in estimates related to mother’s education, enrollment, employment status, or work shift.

7Work shifts were collapsed into two categories: regular and variable work shifts. A regular work shift is one with set hours. A variable shift is one that changes from days to even

hours are set by the employer or the employee.

8Parents or guardians respond “yes” or “no” to the question: “Are there any conditions in your neighborhood that make you worried about the health or safety of ((CHILD)/any of the 9Children are considered poor if they were living in households with incomes below the poverty threshold, which is a dollar amount determined by the federal government to meet t

composition. NOTE: Estimates include children from birth through 5 years of age, and not yet in kindergarten, with at least one weekly nonparental care arrangement. Detail may not sum to tota

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Early Childhood Program Participation Survey of the National Household Education Surveys Pr
19

Table 4. Percentage of children from birth through age 5 and not yet in kindergarten who receive weekly care from a rela

relative and child and family characteristics: 2005 

Relative who provides care 

Characteristic Number of children (thousands) Grandparent Aunt or uncle All oth

Total .................................................................................................. 4,313 76 19 

Child’s age  Less than 1 year................................................................................... 700 81 14  1-2 years............................................................................................... 1,671 78 18  3-5 years............................................................................................... 1,942 72 20 Child’s sex Male ..................................................................................................... 2,136 78 16  Female.................................................................................................. 2,177 74 21 Child’s race/ethnicity  White, non-Hispanic ........................................................................... 2,239 83 12  Black, non-Hispanic............................................................................ 774 66 31  Hispanic ............................................................................................... 859 65 25  Asian or Pacific Islander, non-Hispanic ............................................ 105 67 26  Other race, non-Hispanic1................................................................... 335 84 15 

Family type  Two parents ......................................................................................... 2,851 79 16  One parent............................................................................................ 1,371 70 24  Nonparent guardian(s) ........................................................................ 91 71 15 

Parents’ language spoken most at home2

Both/only parent(s) speak(s) English ................................................ 3,918 78 17 

One of two parents speaks English .................................................... 62 78 18 No parent speaks English ................................................................... 332 58 31 

Mother’s level of education3

 Less than a high school....................................................................... 314 63 28 

 High school/GED................................................................................ 1,297 70 24  Vocational/technical or some college................................................ 1,349 75 18 

 Bachelor’s degree................................................................................ 726 83 13  Graduate or professional education or degree.................................. 497 92 8 

Mother’s school enrollment status3

 Enrolled................................................................................................ 718 74 16  Not enrolled......................................................................................... 3,466 76 19 

See notes at end of table. 
20

Table 4. Percentage of children from birth through age 5 and not yet in kindergarten who receive weekly care from a rela

relative and child and family characteristics: 2005—continued 

Relative who provides care 

Characteristic 

Number of children 

(thousands) Grandparent Aunt or uncle All oth

Mother’s employment status3 35 or more hours per week................................................................ 2,185 76 17  Less than 35 hours per week .............................................................. 1,255 82 16  Looking for work ................................................................................ 271 56 47  Not in the labor force .......................................................................... 472 73 16 Mother’s work shift3, 4

 Regular shift ........................................................................................ 2,941 78 16  Variable shift ....................................................................................... 500 81 20 Neighborhood conditions5

 Concern regarding neighborhood health and safety 

conditions ..................................................................................... 800 74 25 

 No concern regarding neighborhood health and safety 

conditions ..................................................................................... 3,512 77 17 

Household income  $25,000 or less..................................................................................... 1,295 68 29 

 $25,001 to $50,000 ............................................................................. 1,171 74 16 

 $50,001 to $75,000 ............................................................................. 824 80 15 

 $75,001 to $100,000 ........................................................................... 462 86 13 

 $100,001 or more................................................................................. 561 86 10 

Poverty status6

 At or above poverty threshold ............................................................ 3,294 80 15  Below poverty threshold ..................................................................... 1,018 65 29 

!Interpret data with caution; coefficient of variation is 50 percent or more. 1“Other race, non-Hispanic” includes children who were multiracial and not of Hispanic ethnicity, or who were American Indian or Alaska Native, or were not Hispanic, White, Bla2Complete descriptions of the categories for parents’ language are as follows: (1) “Both/only parent(s) learned English as child(ren) or currently speak(s) English in the home,” (2) 

a child or currently speaks English in the home,” and (3) “No parent learned English as a child and both/only parent(s) currently speak(s) a non-English language in the home.”

3Children without mothers living in the household are not included in estimates related to mother’s education, enrollment, employment status, or work shift.

4Work shifts were collapsed into two categories: regular and variable work shifts. A regular work shift is one with set hours. A variable shift is one that changes from days to even

hours are set by the employer or the employee.

5Parents or guardians respond “yes” or “no” to the question: “Are there any conditions in your neighborhood that make you worried about the health or safety of ((CHILD)/any of the 6Children are considered poor if they were living in households with incomes below the poverty threshold, which is a dollar amount determined by the federal government to meet t

composition. NOTE: Estimates include children from birth through 5 years of age, and not yet in kindergarten, with at least one weekly relative care arrangement. Detail may not sum to totals be

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Early Childhood Program Participation Survey of the National Household Education Surveys Pr
21

Table 4-A. Standard errors for the percentage of children from birth through age 5 and not yet in kindergarten who recei

relative, by type of relative and child and family characteristics: 2005 

Relative who provides care 

Characteristic 

Number of children 

(thousands) Grandparent Aunt or uncle All oth

Total .................................................................................................. 136.9 1.8 1.7 

Child’s age 

Less than 1 year................................................................................... 57.0 3.1 2.6 

1-2 years............................................................................................... 82.2 3.0 3.0 

3-5 years............................................................................................... 91.0 2.4 1.8 

Child’s sex

Male ..................................................................................................... 92.5 1.9 1.6 

Female.................................................................................................. 105.3 2.6 2.5 

Child’s race/ethnicity 

White, non-Hispanic ........................................................................... 96.1 1.9 1.7 

Black, non-Hispanic............................................................................ 80.5 7.5 7.8 

Hispanic ............................................................................................... 41.9 3.1 2.8 

Asian or Pacific Islander, non-Hispanic ............................................ 23.4 10.4 10.9 

Other race, non-Hispanic1................................................................... 44.0 4.5 3.8 

Family type 

Two parents ......................................................................................... 119.9 1.7 1.5 

One parent............................................................................................ 106.4 4.5 4.4 Nonparent guardian(s) ........................................................................ 15.6 9.5 5.6 

Parents’ language spoken most at home2

Both/only parent(s) speak(s) English ................................................ 136.8 1.9 1.8 One of two parents speaks English ................................................... 12.0 9.2 8.9 No parent speaks English .................................................................. 35.3 6.2 5.3 

Mother’s level of education3

Less than a high school....................................................................... 37.2 5.8 5.7 

High school/GED................................................................................ 83.4 3.0 3.6 

Vocational/technical or some college................................................ 98.5 4.6 4.8 Bachelor’s degree................................................................................ 59.6 3.3 2.5 

Graduate or professional education or degree.................................. 56.4 2.1 2.0 

Mother’s school enrollment status3

Enrolled.............................................................................. 60.5 3.6 2.9 Not enrolled....................................................................... 134.5 2.0 2.0 

See notes at end of table. 
22

Table 4-A. Standard errors for the percentage of children from birth through age 5 and not yet in kindergarten who recei

relative, by type of relative and child and family characteristics: 2005—continued 

Relative who provides care 

Characteristic 

Number of children 

(thousands) Grandparent Aunt or uncle All oth

Mother’s employment status3

 35 or more hours per week................................................................ 104.0 2.3 2.1 

Less than 35 hours per week .............................................................. 70.3 2.2 2.1 Looking for work ................................................................................ 79.3 18.5 18.0 

Not in the labor force .......................................................................... 50.2 5.1 5.0 

Mother’s work shift3, 4

Regular shift ........................................................................................ 112.3 1.7 1.5 

Variable shift ....................................................................................... 56.5 3.4 4.8 

Neighborhood conditions5

Concern regarding neighborhood health and safety 

conditions ..................................................................................... 100.1 7.1 7.0 

No concern regarding neighborhood health and safety 

conditions ..................................................................................... 118.6 1.8 1.5 

Household income 

$25,000 or less..................................................................................... 83.8 4.7 5.0 

$25,001 to $50,000 ............................................................................. 69.7 2.5 2.0 

$50,001 to $75,000 ............................................................................. 64.0 3.5 3.9 

$75,001 to $100,000 ........................................................................... 44.0 3.9 3.1 

$100,001 or more................................................................................. 62.4 2.8 2.3 

Poverty status6

At or above poverty threshold ............................................................ 125.8 1.5 1.4 

Below poverty threshold ..................................................................... 84.1 5.6 5.8 

!Interpret data with caution; coefficient of variation is 50 percent or more. 1“Other race, non-Hispanic” includes children who were multiracial and not of Hispanic ethnicity, or who were American Indian or Alaska Native, or were not Hispanic, White, Bla2Complete descriptions of the categories for parents’ language are as follows: (1) “Both/only parent(s) learned English as child(ren) or currently speak(s) English in the home,” (2) 

a child or currently speaks English in the home,” and (3) “No parent learned English as a child and both/only parent(s) currently speak(s) a non-English language in the home.”

3Children without mothers living in the household are not included in estimates related to mother’s education, enrollment, employment status, or work shift.

4Work shifts were collapsed into two categories: regular and variable work shifts. A regular work shift is one with set hours. A variable shift is one that changes from days to even

hours are set by the employer or the employee.

5Parents or guardians respond “yes” or “no” to the question: “Are there any conditions in your neighborhood that make you worried about the health or safety of ((CHILD)/any of the 6Children are considered poor if they were living in households with incomes below the poverty threshold, which is a dollar amount determined by the federal government to meet t

composition. NOTE: Estimates include children from birth through 5 years of age, and not yet in kindergarten, with at least one weekly relative care arrangement. Detail may not sum to totals be

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Early Childhood Program Participation Survey of the National Household Education Surveys Pr
23

Table 5. Mean number of hours per week of care for children from birth through age 5 and not yet in kindergarten, by ar

child and family characteristics: 2005 

Hours spent per week in different types of nonparental care 

Characteristic 

Number of children 

(thousands) 

At least one weekly nonparental 

care arrangement1 Relative Nonrelative 

Total ............................................................................... 12,344 29.3 24.3 26.7 

Child’s age  Less than 1 year................................................................ 1,471 31.1 27.2 27.9  1-2 years............................................................................ 4,262 30.5 24.3 28.1  3-5 years............................................................................ 6,611 28.1 23.2 24.5 Child’s sex

 Male .................................................................................. 6,411 28.7 23.2 26.3  Female............................................................................... 5,934 30.0 25.4 27.2 Child’s race/ethnicity  White, non-Hispanic ........................................................ 7,088 27.2 21.7 25.9  Black, non-Hispanic......................................................... 2,039 35.8 27.9 32.4  Hispanic ............................................................................ 2,096 28.8 26.7 25.5  Asian or Pacific Islander, non-Hispanic ......................... 348 32.6 28.4 37.2  Other race, non-Hispanic4................................................ 773 31.7 25.6 26.9 

Family type  Two parents ...................................................................... 9,168 27.1 21.6 26.6  One parent......................................................................... 2,961 35.1 28.7 26.7  Nonparent guardian(s) ..................................................... 216 43.4 42.5 36.7 Parents’ language spoken most at home5

Both/only parent(s) speak(s) English ............................. 11,090 29.6 24.0 26.9 One of two parents speaks English ................................. 210 26.8 26.3 23.3 No parent speaks English ................................................ 1,044 27.1 26.7 24.8 

Mother’s level of education6

 Less than a high school.................................................... 730 27.1 22.9 27.3 

 High school/GED............................................................. 3,104 29.5 27.2 26.2 

 Vocational/technical or some college............................. 3,504 29.8 23.3 29.5 

 Bachelor’s degree............................................................. 2,845 28.0 22.3 25.5  Graduate or professional education or degree............... 1,905 30.3 22.7 25.6 Mother’s school enrollment status6

 Enrolled............................................................................. 1,894 32.1 24.0 25.9 

 Not enrolled...................................................................... 10,194 28.7 24.3 27.0 

See notes at end of table. 
24

Table 5. Mean number of hours per week of care for children from birth through age 5 and not yet in kindergarten, by ar

child and family characteristics: 2005—continued 

Hours spent per week in different types of nonparental care 

Characteristic 

Number of children 

(thousands) 

At least one weekly nonparental 

care arrangement1 Relative Nonrelative 

Mother’s employment status6 35 or more hours per week .............................................. 6,078 37.2 28.7 33.0  Less than 35 hours per week ........................................... 2,978 22.9 18.2 18.1  Looking for work ............................................................. 652 28.1 24.9 20.2 

 Not in the labor force ....................................................... 2,380 17.1 19.2 14.8 

Mother’s work shift6, 7

 Regular shift ..................................................................... 7,985 33.4 24.8 29.3  Variable shift .................................................................... 1,071 25.7 25.2 20.9 Neighborhood conditions8

 Concern regarding neighborhood health and safety 

conditions .................................................................. 2,018 28.3 25.2 24.0 

 No concern regarding neighborhood health and 

safety conditions....................................................... 10,327 29.5 24.1 27.2 

Household income  $25,000 or less.................................................................. 3,008 31.4 27.4 25.4  $25,001 to $50,000 .......................................................... 2,767 29.3 24.6 26.2  $50,001 to $75,000 .......................................................... 2,635 28.1 23.0 27.8  $75,001 to $100,000 ........................................................ 1,775 29.4 21.0 31.0 

 $100,001 or more.............................................................. 2,159 27.9 21.0 23.6 Poverty status9

 At or above poverty threshold ......................................... 10,017 29.1 23.8 27.1 

 Below poverty threshold .................................................. 2,328 30.4 25.9 24.1 

1Estimates indicate hours per week, per child, across all weekly arrangements of all types. For children with more than one arrangement, the hours for each weekly arrangement are 

time in child care per week. 

2Estimates indicate hours per week for care of a given type, per child. For children with more than one arrangement of a given type, the hours for each arrangement of that type are 

time in care per week. 

3Center-based arrangements include day care centers, Head Start programs, preschools, prekindergartens, and other early childhood programs.

4“Other race, non-Hispanic” includes children who were multiracial and not of Hispanic ethnicity, or who were American Indian or Alaska Native, or were not Hispanic, White, Bla

5Complete descriptions of the categories for parents’ language are as follows: (1) “Both/only parent(s) learned English as child(ren) or currently speak(s) English in the home,” (2) 

child or currently speaks English in the home,” and (3) “No parent learned English as a child and both/only parent(s) currently speak(s) a non-English language in the home.”

6Children without mothers living in the household are not included in estimates related to mother’s education, enrollment, employment status, or work shift.

7Work shifts were collapsed into two categories: regular and variable work shifts. A regular work shift is one with set hours. A variable shift is one that changes from days to even

hours are set by the employer or the employee.

8Parents or guardians respond “yes” or “no” to the question: “Are there any conditions in your neighborhood that make you worried about the health or safety of ((CHILD)/any of the 9Children are considered poor if they were living in households with incomes below the poverty threshold, which is a dollar amount determined by the federal government to meet t

composition. NOTE: Estimates include children from birth through 5 years of age, and not yet in kindergarten with at least one weekly nonparental care arrangement. Children may have multipl

nonparental care arrangements is taken for each child. Detail may not sum to totals because of rounding. SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Early Childhood Program Participation Survey of the National Household Education Surveys Pr
25

Table 5-A. Standard errors for the mean number of hours per week of care for children from birth through age 5 and not 

kindergarten, by arrangement and child and family characteristics: 2005 

Hours spent per week in different types of nonparental care 

Characteristic 

Number of children 

(thousands) 

At least one weekly nonparental 

care arrangement1 Relative Nonrelative 

Total ............................................................................... 158.5 0.37 0.61 0.63 

Child’s age 

Less than 1 year................................................................ 64.8 0.95 1.05 1.50 

1-2 years............................................................................ 110.5 0.57 1.03 0.91 

3-5 years............................................................................ 84.0 0.44 1.00 1.03 

Child’s sex

Male .................................................................................. 143.2 0.50 0.90 0.75 

Female............................................................................... 145.4 0.44 0.78 0.98 

Child’s race/ethnicity 

White, non-Hispanic ........................................................ 119.6 0.48 0.88 0.79 

Black, non-Hispanic......................................................... 79.0 0.84 1.62 2.49 

Hispanic ............................................................................ 60.4 0.76 1.09 1.59 

Asian or Pacific Islander, non-Hispanic ......................... 36.2 1.73 3.78 5.13 

Other race, non-Hispanic4................................................ 63.5 1.10 2.08 2.39 

Family type 

Two parents ...................................................................... 156.1 0.43 0.71 0.69 One parent......................................................................... 113.2 0.76 1.21 1.98 Nonparent guardian(s) ..................................................... 29.5 2.68 3.75 9.06 

Parents’ language spoken most at home5

Both/only parent(s) speak(s) English ............................. 158.1 0.39 0.67 0.68 One of two parents speaks English ................................. 29.9 1.83 4.13 3.85 No parent speaks English ................................................ 64.2 1.12 2.06 2.12 

Mother’s level of education6

Less than a high school.................................................... 52.8 1.57 2.26 2.68 High school/GED............................................................. 132.6 0.73 1.04 1.80 

Vocational/technical or some college............................. 148.5 0.74 1.16 1.16 

Bachelor’s degree............................................................. 102.0 0.67 1.31 1.16 Graduate or professional education or degree............... 107.6 0.64 1.76 1.52 

Mother’s school enrollment status6

Enrolled............................................................................. 104.5 0.99 1.64 1.49 

Not enrolled...................................................................... 181.8 0.40 0.63 0.64 

See notes at end of table. 
26

Table 5-A. Standard errors for the mean number of hours per week of care for children from birth through age 5 and not 

kindergarten, by arrangement and child and family characteristics: 2005—continued 

Hours spent per week in different types of nonparental car

Characteristic 

Number of children 

(thousands) 

At least one weekly nonparental 

care arrangement1 Relative Nonrelative 

Mother’s employment status6

35 or more hours per week .............................................. 171.2 0.42 0.87 0.77 

Less than 35 hours per week ........................................... 128.2 0.62 0.99 1.09 

Looking for work ............................................................. 95.2 1.64 2.76 5.36 

Not in the labor force ....................................................... 105.9 0.69 2.00 1.81 

Mother’s work shift6, 7

Regular shift ..................................................................... 174.6 0.36 0.66 0.66 

Variable shift .................................................................... 83.1 1.54 2.08 2.17 

Neighborhood conditions8

Concern regarding neighborhood health and safety 

conditions .................................................................. 150.2 0.91 1.55 1.71 

No concern regarding neighborhood health 

and safety conditions ................................................ 169.5 0.40 0.71 0.73 

Household income 

$25,000 or less.................................................................. 96.8 0.78 1.25 1.55 

$25,001 to $50,000 .......................................................... 97.0 0.75 1.12 1.60 $50,001 to $75,000 .......................................................... 87.5 0.72 1.06 1.40 $75,001 to $100,000 ........................................................ 93.3 0.85 1.42 1.38 

$100,001 or more.............................................................. 105.7 0.69 1.35 1.77 

Poverty status9

At or above poverty threshold ......................................... 140.8 0.37 0.69 0.69 

Below poverty threshold .................................................. 94.5 0.93 1.29 1.93 

1Estimates indicate hours per week, per child, across all weekly arrangements of all types. For children with more than one arrangement, the hours for each weekly arrangement are 

time in child care per week. 

2Estimates indicate hours per week for care of a given type, per child. For children with more than one arrangement of a given type, the hours for each arrangement of that type are 

time in care per week. 

3Center-based arrangements include day care centers, Head Start programs, preschools, prekindergartens, and other early childhood programs.

4“Other race, non-Hispanic” includes children who were multiracial and not of Hispanic ethnicity, or who were American Indian or Alaska Native, or were not Hispanic, White, Bla

5Complete descriptions of the categories for parents’ language are as follows: (1) “Both/only parent(s) learned English as child(ren) or currently speak(s) English in the home,” (2) 

child or currently speaks English in the home,” and (3) “No parent learned English as a child and both/only parent(s) currently speak(s) a non-English language in the home.”

6Children without mothers living in the household are not included in estimates related to mother’s education, enrollment, employment status, or work shift.

7Work shifts were collapsed into two categories: regular and variable work shifts. A regular work shift is one with set hours. A variable shift is one that changes from days to even

hours are set by the employer or the employee.

8Parents or guardians respond “yes” or “no” to the question: “Are there any conditions in your neighborhood that make you worried about the health or safety of ((CHILD)/any of the 9Children are considered poor if they were living in households with incomes below the poverty threshold, which is a dollar amount determined by the federal government to meet t

composition. NOTE: Estimates include children from birth through 5 years of age, and not yet in kindergarten with at least one weekly nonparental care arrangement. Children may have multipl

nonparental care arrangements is taken for each child. Detail may not sum to totals because of rounding. SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Early Childhood Program Participation Survey of the National Household Education Surveys Pr
27

Table 6. Mean length of time (in months) that children from birth through age 5 and not yet in kindergarten have been in 

arrangement and child and family characteristics: 2005 

Mean number of months spent in different types of nonparental care arrangement

Characteristic Number of children (thousands) Relative Nonrelative Cent

Total ........................................................................... 12,344 7.1 3.6 

Child’s age  Less than 1 year............................................................ 1,471 2.3 1.4  1-2 years........................................................................ 4,262 6.4 4.0  3-5 years........................................................................ 6,611 8.7 3.8 Child’s sex Male .............................................................................. 6,411 7.2 3.6  Female........................................................................... 5,934 7.1 3.6 Child’s race/ethnicity  White, non-Hispanic .................................................... 7,088 6.7 4.4  Black, non-Hispanic..................................................... 2,039 7.3 1.8  Hispanic ........................................................................ 2,096 7.9 3.0  Asian or Pacific Islander, non-Hispanic ..................... 348 4.4 2.7  Other race, non-Hispanic3............................................ 773 9.7 2.8 

Family type  Two parents .................................................................. 9,168 6.3 3.9  One parent..................................................................... 2,961 9.4 2.8  Nonparent guardian(s) ................................................. 216 10.4 1.4 Parents’ language spoken most at home4

Both/only parent(s) speak(s) English ......................... 11,090 7.3 3.7 One of two parents speaks English ............................. 210 4.5 1.1 No parent speaks English ............................................ 1,044 6.3 2.9 

Mother’s level of education5

 Less than a high school................................................ 730 8.0 2.4  High school/GED......................................................... 3,104 8.8 3.2  Vocational/technical or some college......................... 3,504 7.8 3.4 

 Bachelor’s degree......................................................... 2,845 5.5 3.7  Graduate or professional education or degree........... 1,905 5.2 5.0 Mother’s school enrollment status5

 Enrolled......................................................................... 1,894 6.8 2.5  Not enrolled.................................................................. 10,194 7.2 3.8 

See notes at end of table. 
28

Table 6. Mean length of time (in months) that children from birth through age 5 and not yet in kindergarten have been in 

arrangement and child and family characteristics: 2005—continued 

Mean number of months spent in different types of nonparental care arrangement1

Characteristic 

Number of children 

(thousands) Relative Nonrelative Cent

Mother’s employment status5 35 or more hours per week .......................................... 6,078 7.6 4.6  Less than 35 hours per week ....................................... 2,978 8.5 3.7  Looking for work ......................................................... 652 9.6 2.9 

 Not in the labor force ................................................... 2,380 3.4 1.2 Mother’s work shift5, 6

 Regular shift ................................................................. 7,985 7.7 4.4  Variable shift ................................................................ 1,071 9.3 3.3 Neighborhood conditions7

Concern regarding neighborhood health and safety 

conditions .............................................................. 2,018 6.9 3.3 

No concern regarding neighborhood health and 

safety conditions ................................................... 10,327 7.2 3.7 

Household income  $25,000 or less.............................................................. 3,008 8.2 2.4 

 $25,001 to $50,000 ...................................................... 2,767 8.4 2.9 

 $50,001 to $75,000 ...................................................... 2,635 6.6 4.3 

 $75,001 to $100,000 .................................................... 1,775 6.0 4.9 

 $100,001 or more.......................................................... 2,159 5.6 4.3 

Poverty status8

 At or above poverty threshold ..................................... 10,017 7.0 3.9  Below poverty threshold .............................................. 2,328 7.9 2.2 

1Estimates indicate the mean number of months in care for a given type of care, per child. For children with more than one arrangement of a given type, the arrangement in which th

months was used. 

2Center-based arrangements include day care centers, Head Start programs, preschools, prekindergartens, and other early childhood programs.

3“Other race, non-Hispanic” includes children who were multiracial and not of Hispanic ethnicity, or who were American Indian or Alaska Native, or were not Hispanic, White, Bla

4Complete descriptions of the categories for parents’ language are as follows: (1) “Both/only parent(s) learned English as child(ren) or currently speak(s) English in the home,” (2) 

child or currently speaks English in the home,” and (3) “No parent learned English as a child and both/only parent(s) currently speak(s) a non-English language in the home.”

5Children without mothers living in the household are not included in estimates related to mother’s education, enrollment, employment status, or work shift.

6Work shifts were collapsed into two categories: regular and variable work shifts. A regular work shift is one with set hours. A variable shift is one that changes from days to even

hours are set by the employer or the employee.

7Parents or guardians respond “yes” or “no” to the question: “Are there any conditions in your neighborhood that make you worried about the health or safety of ((CHILD)/any of the 8Children are considered poor if they were living in households with incomes below the poverty threshold, which is a dollar amount determined by the federal government to meet t

composition. NOTE: Estimates include children from birth through 5 years of age, and not yet in kindergarten with at least one weekly nonparental care arrangement. Detail may not sum to tota

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Early Childhood Program Participation Survey of the National Household Education Surveys Pr
29

Table 6-A. Standard errors for the mean length of time (in months) that children from birth through age 5 and not yet in 

been in current care, by arrangement and child and family characteristics: 2005 

Mean number of months spent in different types of nonparental care arrangement

Characteristic Number of children (thousands) Relative Nonrelative Cent

Total ........................................................................... 158.5 0.30 0.19 

Child’s age 

Less than 1 year............................................................ 64.8 0.19 0.13 

1-2 years........................................................................ 110.5 0.36 0.23 

3-5 years........................................................................ 84.0 0.48 0.31 

Child’s sex

Male .............................................................................. 143.2 0.43 0.23 

Female........................................................................... 145.4 0.38 0.29 

Child’s race/ethnicity 

White, non-Hispanic .................................................... 119.6 0.33 0.28 

Black, non-Hispanic..................................................... 79.0 0.86 0.29 

Hispanic ........................................................................ 60.4 0.63 0.35 

Asian or Pacific Islander, non-Hispanic ..................... 36.2 0.90 0.90 

Other race, non-Hispanic3............................................ 63.5 1.48 0.82 

Family type 

Two parents .................................................................. 156.1 0.29 0.21 

One parent..................................................................... 113.2 0.84 0.40 

Nonparent guardian(s) ................................................. 29.5 2.07 0.51 

Parents’ language spoken most at home4

Both/only parent(s) speak(s) English ......................... 158.1 0.32 0.21 One of two parents speaks English ............................. 29.9 0.93 0.44 No parent speaks English ............................................ 64.2 0.94 0.38 

Mother’s level of education5

Less than a high school................................................ 52.8 1.30 0.59 

High school/GED......................................................... 132.6 0.64 0.40 

Vocational/technical or some college......................... 148.5 0.54 0.33 

Bachelor’s degree......................................................... 102.0 0.54 0.37 

Graduate or professional education or degree........... 107.6 0.63 0.52 

Mother’s school enrollment status5

Enrolled......................................................................... 104.5 0.69 0.33 

Not enrolled.................................................................. 181.8 0.36 0.22 

See notes at end of table. 
30

Table 6-A. Standard errors for the mean length of time (in months) that children from birth through age 5 and not yet in 

kindergarten have been in current care, by arrangement and child and family characteristics: 2005—continue

Mean number of months spent in different types of nonparental care arrangement1

Characteristic 

Number of children 

(thousands) Relative Nonrelative Cent

Mother’s employment status5

35 or more hours per week .......................................... 171.2 0.46 0.29 

Less than 35 hours per week ....................................... 128.2 0.57 0.39 

Looking for work ......................................................... 95.2 2.32 0.98 

Not in the labor force ................................................... 105.9 0.49 0.18 

Mother’s work shift5, 6

Regular shift ................................................................. 174.6 0.41 0.26 Variable shift ................................................................ 83.1 0.81 0.54 

Neighborhood conditions7

Concern regarding neighborhood health and 

safety conditions ................................................... 150.2 0.81 0.66 

No concern regarding neighborhood health and 

safety conditions ................................................... 169.5 0.34 0.19 

Household income 

$25,000 or less.............................................................. 96.8 0.65 0.34 

$25,001 to $50,000 ...................................................... 97.0 0.65 0.36 $50,001 to $75,000 ...................................................... 87.5 0.53 0.45 $75,001 to $100,000 .................................................... 93.3 0.64 0.47 

$100,001 or more.......................................................... 105.7 0.71 0.55 

Poverty status8

At or above poverty threshold ..................................... 140.8 0.34 0.23 

Below poverty threshold .............................................. 94.5 0.81 0.43 

1Estimates indicate the mean number of months in care for a given type of care, per child. For children with more than one arrangement of a given type, the mean number of month2Center-based arrangements include day care centers, Head Start programs, preschools, prekindergartens, and other early childhood programs.

3“Other race, non-Hispanic” includes children who were multiracial and not of Hispanic ethnicity, or who were American Indian or Alaska Native, or were not Hispanic, White, Bla

4Complete descriptions of the categories for parents’ language are as follows: (1) “Both/only parent(s) learned English as child(ren) or currently speak(s) English in the home,” (2) 

child or currently speaks English in the home,” and (3) “No parent learned English as a child and both/only parent(s) currently speak(s) a non-English language in the home.”

5Children without mothers living in the household are not included in estimates related to mother’s education, enrollment, employment status, or work shift.

6Work shifts were collapsed into two categories: regular and variable work shifts. A regular work shift is one with set hours. A variable shift is one that changes from days to even

hours are set by the employer or the employee.

7Parents or guardians respond “yes” or “no” to the question: “Are there any conditions in your neighborhood that make you worried about the health or safety of ((CHILD)/any of the 8Children are considered poor if they were living in households with incomes below the poverty threshold, which is a dollar amount determined by the federal government to meet t

composition. NOTE: Estimates include children from birth through 5 years of age, and not yet in kindergarten with at least one weekly nonparental care arrangement. Detail may not sum to tota

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Early Childhood Program Participation Survey of the National Household Education Surveys Pr
31

Table 7. Mean hourly out-of-pocket expense paid for weekly nonparental care arrangements that have any out-of-pocket c

birth through age 5 and not yet in kindergarten, by child and family characteristics: 2005 

Hourly out-of-pocket expense by type of weekly nonparental care arrang

Characteristic Number of children (thousands) Relative Nonrelative 

Total ............................................................................... 8,265 $2.90 $4.75 

Child’s age  Less than 1 year................................................................ 860 2.46 5.15  1-2 years ........................................................................... 2,919 3.23 4.73  3-5 years ........................................................................... 4,486 2.77 4.59 Child’s sex

 Male .................................................................................. 4,228 3.22 4.79  Female............................................................................... 4,037 2.59 4.71 Child’s race/ethnicity  White, non-Hispanic........................................................ 5,170 3.22 4.86  Black, non-Hispanic......................................................... 1,177 2.52 3.68  Hispanic............................................................................ 1,193 2.64 4.61  Asian or Pacific Islander, non-Hispanic......................... 250 3.79! 4.76  Other race, non-Hispanic3 ............................................... 476 3.38 5.52 

Family type  Two parents...................................................................... 6,516 3.36 4.98  One parent ........................................................................ 1,648 2.27 3.60  Nonparent guardian(s) ..................................................... 101 2.10 4.01 Parents’ language spoken most at home4

Both/only parent(s) speak(s) English ............................. 7,568 2.83 4.88 One of two parents speaks English ................................ 117 3.87 3.67 No parent speaks English ................................................ 580 3.22 3.41 

Mother’s level of education5

 Less than a high school.................................................... 250 3.27 2.46 

 High school/GED............................................................. 1,649 2.49 3.17 

 Vocational/technical or some college............................. 2,398 2.62 3.53 

 Bachelor’s degree............................................................. 2,244 3.14 5.24  Graduate or professional education or 

degree ........................................................................ 1,556 5.01 7.17 

Mother’s school enrollment status5

 Enrolled ............................................................................ 1,119 3.24 4.62  Not enrolled...................................................................... 6,978 2.82 4.75 

See notes at end of table. 
32

Table 7. Mean hourly out-of-pocket expense paid for weekly nonparental care arrangements that have any out-of-pocket 

birth through age 5 and not yet in kindergarten, by child and family characteristics: 2005—continued 

Hourly out-of-pocket expense by type of weekly nonparental care arran

Characteristic Number of children (thousands) Relative Nonrelative Mother’s employment status5

35 or more hours per week .......................................... 4,555 $2.59 $4.06 

 Less than 35 hours per week ....................................... 1,875 3.57 5.70  Looking for work ......................................................... 273 2.09! 3.44 

 Not in the labor force ................................................... 1,393 4.48 7.00 Mother’s work shift5, 6

 Regular shift ................................................................. 5,803 2.73 4.36  Variable shift ................................................................ 627 4.07 6.35 Neighborhood conditions7

 Concern regarding neighborhood health and safety 

conditions .............................................................. 1,256 2.59 6.74 

 No concern regarding neighborhood health and 

safety conditions................................................... 7,009 2.97 4.43 

Household income  $25,000 or less.............................................................. 1,423 2.10 3.32  $25,001 to $50,000 ...................................................... 1,601 3.08 3.49  $50,001 to $75,000 ...................................................... 1,937 3.13 3.63  $75,001 to $100,000 .................................................... 1,473 3.01 4.58 

 $100,001 or more.......................................................... 1,831 4.88 8.42 

Poverty status8

 At or above poverty threshold ..................................... 7,240 3.07 4.91 

 Below poverty threshold .............................................. 1,025 2.48 3.18 

!Interpret data with caution; coefficient of variation is 50 percent or more. 1Estimates indicate out-of-pocket expenses per hour for care of a given type, per child. For children with more than one arrangement of a given type, the expenses for each arrangem

the total spent per hour for that type of care. 

2Center-based arrangements include day care centers, Head Start programs, preschools, prekindergartens, and other early childhood programs.

3“Other race, non-Hispanic” includes children who were multiracial and not of Hispanic ethnicity, or who were American Indian or Alaska Native, or were not Hispanic, White, Bla

4Complete descriptions of the categories for parents’ language are as follows: (1) “Both/only parent(s) learned English as child(ren) or currently speak(s) English in the home,” (2) 

child or currently speaks English in the home,” and (3) “No parent learned English as a child and both/only parent(s) currently speak(s) a non-English language in the home.”

5Children without mothers living in the household are not included in estimates related to mother’s education, enrollment, employment status, or work shift.

6Work shifts were collapsed into two categories: regular and variable work shifts. A regular work shift is one with set hours. A variable shift is one that changes from days to even

hours are set by the employer or the employee.

7Parents or guardians respond “yes” or “no” to the question: “Are there any conditions in your neighborhood that make you worried about the health or safety of ((CHILD)/any of the 8Children are considered poor if they were living in households with incomes below the poverty threshold, which is a dollar amount determined by the federal government to meet t

composition. NOTE: Estimates include children from birth through 5 years of age, and not yet in kindergarten who have at least one weekly nonparental care arrangement with out-of-pocket exp

charged, for whom another source paid the entire fee for care, or for whom the period of time covered by the amount indicated (e.g., per hour, per week, etc.) could not be determineDetail may not sum to totals because of rounding. SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Early Childhood Program Participation Survey of the National Household Education Surveys Pr
33

Table 7-A. Standard errors for the mean hourly out-of-pocket expense paid for weekly nonparental care arrangements tha

pocket cost for children from birth through age 5 and not yet in kindergarten, by child and family characteristi

Hourly out-of-pocket expense by type of weekly nonparental care arran

Characteristic Number of children (thousands) Relative Nonrelative 

Total ................................................................... 166.6 $0.255 $0.225 

Child’s age  Less than 1 year.................................................... 48.7 0.272 0.479  1-2 years ............................................................... 117.1 0.472 0.320  3-5 years ............................................................... 84.8 0.326 0.253 Child’s sex Male ...................................................................... 119.8 0.227 0.349  Female................................................................... 120.3 0.387 0.212 Child’s race/ethnicity  White, non-Hispanic............................................ 120.9 0.359 0.203  Black, non-Hispanic............................................. 90.5 0.809 0.730  Hispanic................................................................ 59.9 0.238 0.791  Asian or Pacific Islander, non-Hispanic............. 32.4 2.126! 0.892  Other race, non-Hispanic3 ................................... 49.1 0.581 0.707 

Family type  Two parents.......................................................... 151.9 0.237 0.237  One parent ............................................................ 106.9 0.502 0.494  Nonparent guardian(s) ......................................... 21.1 0.449 1.354 

Parents’ language spoken most at home4

Both/only parent(s) speak(s) English ................. 157.7 0.303 0.243 One of two parents speaks English .................... 22.1 1.484 1.143 No parent speaks English .................................... 48.4 0.652 0.299 

Mother’s level of education5

 Less than a high school........................................ 33.1 0.670 0.275 

 High school/GED................................................. 95.7 0.384 0.241  Vocational/technical or some college................. 140.8 0.513 0.257  Bachelor’s degree................................................. 90.5 0.550 0.359  Graduate or professional education or 

degree ............................................................ 86.4 1.044 0.711 

Mother’s school enrollment status5

 Enrolled ................................................................ 79.2 0.610 0.627  Not enrolled.......................................................... 170.1 0.294 0.255 

See notes at end of table. 
34

Table 7-A. Standard errors for the mean hourly out-of-pocket expense paid for weekly nonparental care arrangements th

pocket cost for children from birth through age 5 and not yet in kindergarten, by child and family characterist

Hourly out-of-pocket expense by type of weekly nonparental care arra

Characteristic Number of children (thousands) Relative Nonrelative Mother’s employment status5 35 or more hours per week .................................. 151.3 $0.216 $0.274  Less than 35 hours per week ............................... 101.7 0.446 0.399  Looking for work ................................................. 76.6 2.905! 0.435  Not in the labor force ........................................... 77.0 1.789 0.551 Mother’s work shift5, 6

 Regular shift ......................................................... 155.3 0.199 0.179  Variable shift ........................................................ 59.7 0.962 1.552 Neighborhood conditions7

 Concern regarding neighborhood health and 

safety conditions ........................................... 114.9 1.008 0.976 

 No concern regarding neighborhood health 

and safety conditions .................................... 150.6 0.228 0.183 

Household income  $25,000 or less...................................................... 97.8 0.525 0.503 

 $25,001 to $50,000 .............................................. 78.2 0.340 0.298  $50,001 to $75,000 .............................................. 79.1 0.395 0.253  $75,001 to $100,000 ............................................ 82.5 0.310 0.299 

 $100,001 or more.................................................. 92.0 1.025 0.698 

Poverty status8

 At or above poverty threshold ............................. 137.1 0.213 0.233 

 Below poverty threshold ...................................... 98.0 0.719 0.677 

!Interpret data with caution; coefficient of variation is 50 percent or more. 1Estimates indicate out-of-pocket expenses per hour for care of a given type, per child. For children with more than one arrangement of a given type, the expenses for each arrangem

the total spent per hour for that type of care. 

2Center-based arrangements include day care centers, Head Start programs, preschools, prekindergartens, and other early childhood programs.

3“Other race, non-Hispanic” includes children who were multiracial and not of Hispanic ethnicity, or who were American Indian or Alaska Native, or were not Hispanic, White, Bla

4Complete descriptions of the categories for parents’ language are as follows: (1) “Both/only parent(s) learned English as child(ren) or currently speak(s) English in the home,” (2) 

child or currently speaks English in the home,” and (3) “No parent learned English as a child and both/only parent(s) currently speak(s) a non-English language in the home.”

5Children without mothers living in the household are not included in estimates related to mother’s education, enrollment, employment status, or work shift.

6Work shifts were collapsed into two categories: regular and variable work shifts. A regular work shift is one with set hours. A variable shift is one that changes from days to even

hours are set by the employer or the employee.

7Parents or guardians respond “yes” or “no” to the question: “Are there any conditions in your neighborhood that make you worried about the health or safety of ((CHILD)/any of the 8Children are considered poor if they were living in households with incomes below the poverty threshold, which is a dollar amount determined by the federal government to meet t

composition. NOTE: Estimates include children from birth through 5 years of age, and not yet in kindergarten who have at least one weekly nonparental care arrangement with out-of-pocket exp

charged, for whom another source paid the entire fee for care, or for whom the period of time covered by the amount indicated (e.g., per hour, per week, etc.) could not be determineDetail may not sum to totals because of rounding. SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Early Childhood Program Participation Survey of the National Household Education Surveys Pr
35

Table 8. Mean weekly out-of-pocket expense paid for weekly nonparental care arrangements that have any out-of-pocket 

birth through age 5 and not yet in kindergarten, by child and family characteristics: 2005 

Weekly out-of-pocket expense by type of nonparental care arrangem

Characteristic Number of children (thousands) Relative Nonrelative 

Total ................................................................................ 8,265 $60.02 $105.18 

Child’s age  Less than 1 year................................................................. 860 79.49 114.51  1-2 years............................................................................. 2,919 63.07 113.48  3-5 years............................................................................. 4,486 52.75 90.00 Child’s sex

 Male ................................................................................... 4,228 64.41 104.54  Female................................................................................ 4,037 55.73 105.86 Child’s race/ethnicity  White, non-Hispanic ......................................................... 5,170 64.95 106.95  Black, non-Hispanic.......................................................... 1,177 43.04 94.04  Hispanic ............................................................................. 1,193 64.90 91.10  Asian or Pacific Islander, non-Hispanic .......................... 250 81.10 162.12  Other race, non-Hispanic3................................................. 476 69.38 127.09 

Family type 

 Two parents ....................................................................... 6,516 66.99 109.42  One parent.......................................................................... 1,648 48.94 82.80  Nonparent guardian(s) ...................................................... 101 76.48 114.99 

Parents’ language spoken most at home4

 Both/only parent(s) speak(s) English .............................. 7,568 59.96 108.50 

 One of two parents speaks English ................................. 117 71.88 65.69 

 No parent speaks English ................................................ 580 58.72 73.02 

Mother’s level of education5

 Less than a high school..................................................... 250 66.53 62.76 

 High school/GED.............................................................. 1,649 50.95 71.39  Vocational/technical or some college.............................. 2,398 55.79 85.28  Bachelor’s degree.............................................................. 2,244 62.64 116.59  Graduate or professional education or degree................ 1,556 102.57 149.97 Mother’s school enrollment status5

 Enrolled.............................................................................. 1,119 73.66 94.74  Not enrolled....................................................................... 6,978 57.13 106.79 

See notes at end of table. 
36

Table 8. Mean weekly out-of-pocket expense paid for weekly nonparental care arrangements that have any out-of-pocket 

birth through age 5 and not yet in kindergarten, by child and family characteristics: 2005—continued 

Weekly out-of-pocket expense by type of nonparental care arrang

Characteristic Number of children (thousands) Relative Nonrelative Mother’s employment status5

35 or more hours per week ............................................... 4,555 $64.01 $115.71 

 Less than 35 hours per week ............................................ 1,875 56.23 88.24  Looking for work .............................................................. 273 31.50! 61.59  Not in the labor force ........................................................ 1,393 74.28 95.41 Mother’s work shift5, 6

 Regular shift ...................................................................... 5,803 62.09 109.97  Variable shift ..................................................................... 627 59.12 84.00 Neighborhood conditions7

 Concern regarding neighborhood health and safety 

conditions ................................................................... 1,256 54.32 130.01 

 No concern regarding neighborhood health and safety 

conditions ................................................................... 7,009 61.41 101.13 

Household income  $25,000 or less................................................................... 1,423 39.51 62.47 

 $25,001 to $50,000 ........................................................... 1,601 65.86 75.60 

 $50,001 to $75,000 ........................................................... 1,937 65.06 86.29 

 $75,001 to $100,000 ......................................................... 1,473 77.57 126.30 

 $100,001 or more............................................................... 1,831 89.82 166.58 Poverty status8

 At or above poverty threshold .......................................... 7,240 68.79 110.20  Below poverty threshold ................................................... 1,025 38.32 56.10 

!Interpret data with caution; coefficient of variation is 50 percent or more. 1Estimates indicate out-of-pocket expenses per week for care of a given type, per child. For children with more than one arrangement of a given type, the expenses for each arrange

calculate the total spent per week for that type of care. 

2Center-based arrangements include day care centers, Head Start programs, preschools, prekindergartens, and other early childhood programs.

3“Other race, non-Hispanic” includes children who were multiracial and not of Hispanic ethnicity, or who were American Indian or Alaska Native, or were not Hispanic, White, Bla

4Complete descriptions of the categories for parents’ language are as follows: (1) “Both/only parent(s) learned English as child(ren) or currently speak(s) English in the home,” (2) 

child or currently speaks English in the home,” and (3) “No parent learned English as a child and both/only parent(s) currently speak(s) a non-English language in the home.”

5Children without mothers living in the household are not included in estimates related to mother’s education, enrollment, employment status, or work shift.

6Work shifts were collapsed into two categories: regular and variable work shifts. A regular work shift is one with set hours. A variable shift is one that changes from days to even

hours are set by the employer or the employee.

7Parents or guardians respond “yes” or “no” to the question: “Are there any conditions in your neighborhood that make you worried about the health or safety of ((CHILD)/any of the 8Children are considered poor if they were living in households with incomes below the poverty threshold, which is a dollar amount determined by the federal government to meet t

composition. NOTE: Estimates include children from birth through 5 years of age, and not yet in kindergarten who have at least one weekly nonparental care arrangement with out-of-pocket exp

charged, for whom another source paid the entire fee for care, or for whom the period of time covered by the amount indicated (e.g., per hour, per week, etc.) could not be determineDetail may not sum to totals because of rounding. SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Early Childhood Program Participation Survey of the National Household Education Surveys Pr
37

Table 8-A. Standard errors for the mean weekly out-of-pocket expense paid for weekly nonparental care arrangements tha

pocket cost for children from birth through age 5 and not yet in kindergarten, by child and family characteristi

Weekly out-of-pocket expense by type of nonparental care arrange

Characteristic Number of children (thousands) Relative Nonrelative 

Total ................................................................................ 166.6 $3.811 $4.311 

Child’s age  Less than 1 year................................................................. 48.7 9.366 8.865  1-2 years ............................................................................ 117.1 7.909 5.859  3-5 years ............................................................................ 84.8 3.691 5.799 Child’s sex

 Male ................................................................................... 119.8 3.593 6.073  Female................................................................................ 120.3 5.746 5.354 Child’s race/ethnicity  White, non-Hispanic......................................................... 120.9 4.231 4.978  Black, non-Hispanic.......................................................... 90.5 9.306 8.440  Hispanic............................................................................. 59.9 4.524 11.702  Asian or Pacific Islander, non-Hispanic.......................... 32.4 36.807 34.517  Other race, non-Hispanic3 ................................................ 49.1 7.814 22.160 

Family type  Two parents....................................................................... 151.9 3.445 4.556  One parent ......................................................................... 106.9 7.112 8.527  Nonparent guardian(s) ...................................................... 21.1 20.365 42.197 

Parents’ language spoken most at home4

Both/only parent(s) speak(s) English .............................. 157.7 4.587 4.603 One of two parents speaks English ................................. 22.1 13.820 15.066 

No parent speaks English ................................................. 48.4 5.224 7.759 

Mother’s level of education5

 Less than a high school..................................................... 33.1 14.497 7.292 

 High school/GED.............................................................. 95.7 3.726 6.398 

 Vocational/technical or some college.............................. 140.8 10.138 5.109 

 Bachelor’s degree.............................................................. 90.5 8.117 9.444  Graduate or professional education or degree................ 86.4 12.985 10.674 Mother’s school enrollment status5

 Enrolled ............................................................................. 79.2 7.298 13.600 

 Not enrolled....................................................................... 170.1 4.243 4.573 

See notes at end of table. 
38

Table 8-A. Standard errors for the mean weekly out-of-pocket expense paid for weekly nonparental care arrangements th

pocket cost for children from birth through age 5 and not yet in kindergarten, by child and family characterist

Weekly out-of-pocket expense by type of nonparental care arran

Characteristic Number of children (thousands) Relative Nonrelative Mother’s employment status5

35 or more hours per week ............................................... 151.3 $3.960 $5.066 

 Less than 35 hours per week ............................................ 101.7 4.498 6.763  Looking for work .............................................................. 76.6 26.634! 10.836 

 Not in the labor force ........................................................ 77.0 23.042 19.500 Mother’s work shift5, 6

 Regular shift ...................................................................... 155.3 3.524 4.203  Variable shift ..................................................................... 59.7 8.005 16.423 Neighborhood conditions7

 Concern regarding neighborhood health and safety 

conditions ................................................................... 114.9 18.561 14.141 

 No concern regarding neighborhood health and safety 

conditions ................................................................... 150.6 2.844 4.204 

Household income  $25,000 or less................................................................... 97.8 5.759 5.284 

 $25,001 to $50,000 ........................................................... 78.2 5.625 7.410 

 $50,001 to $75,000 ........................................................... 79.1 4.445 7.019 

 $75,001 to $100,000 ......................................................... 82.5 10.998 7.844 

 $100,001 or more............................................................... 92.0 7.350 12.927 

Poverty status8

 At or above poverty threshold .......................................... 137.1 3.063 4.751  Below poverty threshold ................................................... 98.0 6.906 5.828 

!Interpret data with caution; coefficient of variation is 50 percent or more. 1Estimates indicate out-of-pocket expenses per week for care of a given type, per child. For children with more than one arrangement of a given type, the expenses for each arrange

calculate the total spent per week for that type of care. 

2Center-based arrangements include day care centers, Head Start programs, preschools, prekindergartens, and other early childhood programs.

3“Other race, non-Hispanic” includes children who were multiracial and not of Hispanic ethnicity, or who were American Indian or Alaska Native, or were not Hispanic, White, Bla

4Complete descriptions of the categories for parents’ language are as follows: (1) “Both/only parent(s) learned English as child(ren) or currently speak(s) English in the home,” (2) 

child or currently speaks English in the home,” and (3) “No parent learned English as a child and both/only parent(s) currently speak(s) a non-English language in the home.”

5Children without mothers living in the household are not included in estimates related to mother’s education, enrollment, employment status, or work shift.

6Work shifts were collapsed into two categories: regular and variable work shifts. A regular work shift is one with set hours. A variable shift is one that changes from days to even

hours are set by the employer or the employee.

7Parents or guardians respond “yes” or “no” to the question: “Are there any conditions in your neighborhood that make you worried about the health or safety of ((CHILD)/any of the 8Children are considered poor if they were living in households with incomes below the poverty threshold, which is a dollar amount determined by the federal government to meet t

composition. NOTE: Estimates include children from birth through 5 years of age, and not yet in kindergarten who have at least one weekly nonparental care arrangement with out-of-pocket exp

charged, for whom another source paid the entire fee for care, or for whom the period of time covered by the amount indicated (e.g., per hour, per week, etc.) could not be determineDetail may not sum to totals because of rounding. SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Early Childhood Program Participation Survey of the National Household Education Surveys Pr
39

Table 9. Percentage of children from birth through age 5 and not yet in kindergarten whose families are receiving assistan

costs, by type of weekly care arrangement and child and family characteristics: 2005 

Characteristic Number of children (thousands) Rece

Total ....................................................................................... 8,791 

Arrangement type 

Relative..................................................................................... 1,085 Nonrelative ............................................................................... 2,464 Center-based............................................................................. 5,863 

Child’s age 

Less than 1 year........................................................................ 924 1-2 years.................................................................................... 3,106 3-5 years.................................................................................... 4,762 

Child’s sex

Male .......................................................................................... 4,520 Female....................................................................................... 4,271 

Child’s race/ethnicity 

White, non-Hispanic ................................................................ 5,360 Black, non-Hispanic................................................................. 1,374 Hispanic .................................................................................... 1,282 Asian or Pacific Islander, non-Hispanic ................................. 261 Other race, non-Hispanic1........................................................ 515 

Family type 

Two parents .............................................................................. 6,703 

One parent................................................................................. 1,950 

Nonparent guardian(s) ............................................................. 138 

Parents’ language spoken most at home2

Both/only parent(s) speak(s) English ..................................... 8,058 One of two parents speaks English ......................................... 125 No parent speaks English ........................................................ 608 

Mother’s level of education3

Less than a high school............................................................ 331 High school/GED..................................................................... 1,852 

Vocational/technical or some college..................................... 2,556 

Bachelor’s degree..................................................................... 2,291 

Graduate or professional education or degree....................... 1,590 

See notes at end of table. 
40

Table 9. Percentage of children from birth through age 5 and not yet in kindergarten whose families are receiving assistan

costs, by type of weekly care arrangement and child and family characteristics: 2005—continued 

Characteristic Number of children (thousands) Rece

Mother’s school enrollment status3

Enrolled.................................................................................. 1,332 

Not enrolled........................................................................... 7,287 

Mother’s employment status3

35 or more hours per week ................................................... 4,673 

Less than 35 hours per week ................................................ 2,036 

Looking for work .................................................................. 375 Not in the labor force ............................................................ 1,535 

Mother’s work shift3, 4

Regular shift .......................................................................... 6,028 

Variable shift ......................................................................... 681 

Neighborhood conditions5

Concern regarding neighborhood health and safety 

conditions ....................................................................... 1,372 

No concern regarding neighborhood health and safety 

conditions ....................................................................... 7,419 

Household income 

$25,000 or less....................................................................... 1,734 

$25,001 to $50,000 ............................................................... 1,717 

$50,001 to $75,000 ............................................................... 2,008 

$75,001 to $100,000 ............................................................. 1,487 

$100,001 or more................................................................... 1,845 

Poverty status6

At or above poverty threshold .............................................. 7,480 

Below poverty threshold ....................................................... 1,311 

1“Other race, non-Hispanic” includes children who were multiracial and not of Hispanic ethnicity, or who were American Indian or Alaska Native, or were not Hispanic, White, Bla2Complete descriptions of the categories for parents’ language are as follows: (1) “Both/only parent(s) learned English as child(ren) or currently speak(s) English in the home,” (2) 

child or currently speaks English in the home,” and (3) “No parent learned English as a child and both/only parent(s) currently speak(s) a non-English language in the home.”

3Children without mothers living in the household are not included in estimates related to mother’s education, enrollment, employment status, or work shift.

4Work shifts were collapsed into two categories: regular and variable work shifts. A regular work shift is one with set hours. A variable shift is one that changes from days to even

hours are set by the employer or the employee.

5Parents or guardians respond “yes” or “no” to the question: “Are there any conditions in your neighborhood that make you worried about the health or safety of ((CHILD)/any of the 6Children are considered poor if they were living in households with incomes below the poverty threshold, which is a dollar amount determined by the federal government to meet t

and composition. NOTE: Estimates include children from birth through 5 years of age, and not yet in kindergarten, who are in at least one weekly nonparental care arrangement with fees. Detail may 

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Early Childhood Program Participation Survey of the National Household Education Surveys Pr
41

Table 9-A. Standard errors for the percentage of children from birth through age 5 and not yet in kindergarten whose fam

assistance for child care costs, by type of weekly care arrangement and child and family characteristics: 2005 

Characteristic Number of children (thousands) Rece

Total ......................................................................................... 171.3 

Arrangement type 

Relative....................................................................................... 90.0 

Nonrelative ................................................................................. 101.5 

Center-based............................................................................... 117.4 

Child’s age 

Less than 1 year.......................................................................... 49.5 1-2 years...................................................................................... 120.3 

3-5 years...................................................................................... 83.6 

Child’s sex

Male ............................................................................................ 131.2 

Female......................................................................................... 121.5 

Child’s race/ethnicity 

White, non-Hispanic .................................................................. 126.0 

Black, non-Hispanic................................................................... 88.3 Hispanic ...................................................................................... 64.4 Asian or Pacific Islander, non-Hispanic ................................... 33.1 

Other race, non-Hispanic1.......................................................... 54.1 

Family type 

Two parents ................................................................................ 149.5 

One parent................................................................................... 104.4 

Nonparent guardian(s) ............................................................... 25.5 

Parents’ language spoken most at home2

Both/only parent(s) speak(s) English ....................................... 162.5 One of two parents speaks English ........................................... 23.6 No parent speaks English .......................................................... 48.0 

Mother’s level of education3

Less than a high school.............................................................. 37.5 

High school/GED....................................................................... 109.9 

Vocational/technical or some college....................................... 140.3 

Bachelor’s degree....................................................................... 92.4 

Graduate or professional education or degree.......................... 86.6 

See notes at end of table. 
42

Table 9-A. Standard errors for the percentage of children from birth through age 5 and not yet in kindergarten whose fam

assistance for child care costs, by type of weekly care arrangement and child and family characteristics: 2005—

Characteristic Number of children (thousands) Rece

Mother’s school enrollment status3

Enrolled....................................................................................... 81.7 

Not enrolled................................................................................ 173.1 

Mother’s employment status3

35 or more hours per week ........................................................ 157.4 Less than 35 hours per week ..................................................... 101.7 Looking for work ....................................................................... 81.2 Not in the labor force ................................................................. 82.0 

Mother’s work shift3, 4

Regular shift ............................................................................... 159.5 Variable shift .............................................................................. 61.8 

Neighborhood conditions5

Concern regarding neighborhood health and safety 

conditions ............................................................................ 118.2 

No concern regarding neighborhood health and safety 

conditions ............................................................................ 159.6 

Household income 

$25,000 or less............................................................................ 98.4 

$25,001 to $50,000 .................................................................... 80.5 

$50,001 to $75,000 .................................................................... 81.4 

$75,001 to $100,000 .................................................................. 82.6 

$100,001 or more........................................................................ 92.1 

Poverty status6

At or above poverty threshold ................................................... 135.8 Below poverty threshold ............................................................ 98.6 

1“Other race, non-Hispanic” includes children who were multiracial and not of Hispanic ethnicity, or who were American Indian or Alaska Native, or were not Hispanic, White, Bla2Complete descriptions of the categories for parents’ language are as follows: (1) “Both/only parent(s) learned English as child(ren) or currently speak(s) English in the home,” (2) 

child or currently speaks English in the home,” and (3) “No parent learned English as a child and both/only parent(s) currently speak(s) a non-English language in the home.”

3Children without mothers living in the household are not included in estimates related to mother’s education, enrollment, employment status, or work shift.

4Work shifts were collapsed into two categories: regular and variable work shifts. A regular work shift is one with set hours. A variable shift is one that changes from days to even

hours are set by the employer or the employee.

5Parents or guardians respond “yes” or “no” to the question: “Are there any conditions in your neighborhood that make you worried about the health or safety of ((CHILD)/any of the 6Children are considered poor if they were living in households with incomes below the poverty threshold, which is a dollar amount determined by the federal government to meet t

and composition. NOTE: Estimates include children from birth through 5 years of age, and not yet in kindergarten, who are in at least one weekly nonparental care arrangement with fees. Detail may 

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Early Childhood Program Participation Survey of the National Household Education Surveys Pr
43

Table 10. Mean child-to-care provider ratio for children from birth through age 5 and not yet in kindergarten in weekly n

arrangements, by child and family characteristics: 2005 

Mean number of children per care p

Characteristic Number of children (thousands) Relative Nonrelativ

Total ............................................................................................................. 12,344 1.6 3.

Child’s age  Less than 1 year.............................................................................................. 1,471 1.4 2. 1-2 years.......................................................................................................... 4,262 1.6 3. 3-5 years.......................................................................................................... 6,611 1.6 3.Child’s sex Male ................................................................................................................ 6,411 1.5 3. Female............................................................................................................. 5,934 1.6 3.Child’s race/ethnicity  White, non-Hispanic ...................................................................................... 7,088 1.4 3. Black, non-Hispanic....................................................................................... 2,039 2.0 2. Hispanic .......................................................................................................... 2,096 1.6 2. Asian or Pacific Islander, non-Hispanic ....................................................... 348 1.3 3.

 Other race, non-Hispanic3.............................................................................. 773 1.4 3.

Family type  Two parents .................................................................................................... 9,168 1.5 3. One parent....................................................................................................... 2,961 1.7 2. Nonparent guardian(s) ................................................................................... 216 1.3 2.

Parents’ language spoken most at home4

Both/only parent(s) speak(s) English ........................................................... 11,090 1.6 3.

One of two parents speaks English ............................................................... 210 1.2 1.No parent speaks English .............................................................................. 1,044 1.6 2.

Mother’s level of education5

 Less than a high school.................................................................................. 730 1.5 2.

 High school/GED........................................................................................... 3,104 1.6 2. Vocational/technical or some college........................................................... 3,504 1.8 3. Bachelor’s degree........................................................................................... 2,845 1.3 3. Graduate or professional education or degree.............................................. 1,905 1.3 3.Mother’s school enrollment status4

 Enrolled........................................................................................................... 1,894 1.5 2. Not enrolled.................................................................................................... 10,194 1.6 3.

See notes at end of table 
44

Table 10. Mean child-to-care provider ratio for children from birth through age 5 and not yet in kindergarten in weekly n

arrangements, by child and family characteristics: 2005—continued 

Mean number of children per care prov

Characteristic Number of children (thousands) Relative NonrelativMother’s employment status5 35 or more hours per week ............................................................................ 6,078 1.5 3 Less than 35 hours per week ......................................................................... 2,978 1.5 2 Looking for work ........................................................................................... 652 2.9 2

 Not in the labor force ..................................................................................... 2,380 1.4 2Mother’s work shift 5, 6

 Regular shift ................................................................................................... 7,985 1.5 3 Variable shift .................................................................................................. 1,071 1.5 2Neighborhood conditions7

 Concern regarding neighborhood health and safety conditions.................. 2,018 2.0 3

 No concern regarding neighborhood health and safety conditions............. 10,327 1.5 3

Household income  $25,000 or less................................................................................................ 3,008 1.9 2

 $25,001 to $50,000 ........................................................................................ 2,767 1.4 3

 $50,001 to $75,000 ........................................................................................ 2,635 1.6 3

 $75,001 to $100,000 ...................................................................................... 1,775 1.3 3

 $100,001 or more............................................................................................ 2,159 1.4 2

Poverty status8

 At or above poverty threshold ....................................................................... 10,017 1.4 3 Below poverty threshold ................................................................................ 2,328 2.0 2

1Estimates indicate number of children per care provider, per child, across relative, nonrelative, and center-based arrangements. For children with more than one arrangement of a s

provider ratio is calculated for each child. 

2Center-based arrangements include day care centers, Head Start programs, preschools, prekindergartens, and other early childhood programs. 3“Other race, non-Hispanic” includes children who were multiracial and not of Hispanic ethnicity, or who were American Indian or Alaska Native, or were not Hispanic, White, Bla4Complete descriptions of the categories for parents’ language are as follows: (1) “Both/only parent(s) learned English as child(ren) or currently speak(s) English in the home,” (2) 

child or currently speaks English in the home,” and (3) “No parent learned English as a child and both/only parent(s) currently speak(s) a non-English language in the home.”

5Children without mothers living in the household are not included in estimates related to mother’s education, enrollment, employment status, or work shift.

6Work shifts were collapsed into two categories: regular and variable work shifts. A regular work shift is one with set hours. A variable shift is one that changes from days to even

hours are set by the employer or the employee.

7Parents or guardians respond “yes” or “no” to the question: “Are there any conditions in your neighborhood that make you worried about the health or safety of ((CHILD)/any of the 8Children are considered poor if they were living in households with incomes below the poverty threshold, which is a dollar amount determined by the federal government to meet t

and composition. NOTE: Estimates include all children from birth through 5 years of age, and not yet in kindergarten, with at least one weekly nonparental care arrangement. Children with multiple 

estimates. Detail may not sum to totals because of rounding. SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Early Childhood Program Participation Survey of the National Household Education Surveys Pr
45

Table 10-A. Standard errors for the mean child-to-care provider ratio for children from birth through age 5 and not yet i

weekly nonparental care arrangements, by child and family characteristics: 2005 

Mean number of children per care prov

Characteristic 

Number of children 

(thousands) Relative Nonrelati

Total ........................................................................................................... 158.5 0.09 0.0

Child’s age 

Less than 1 year............................................................................................ 64.8 0.08 0.

1-2 years........................................................................................................ 110.5 0.18 0.0

3-5 years........................................................................................................ 84.0 0.06 0.

Child’s sex

Male .............................................................................................................. 143.2 0.07 0.0

Female........................................................................................................... 145.4 0.13 0.

Child’s race/ethnicity 

White, non-Hispanic .................................................................................... 119.6 0.05 0.0Black, non-Hispanic..................................................................................... 79.0 0.48 0.2

Hispanic ........................................................................................................ 60.4 0.08 0.Asian or Pacific Islander, non-Hispanic .................................................... 36.2 0.17 0.4Other race, non-Hispanic3............................................................................ 63.5 0.11 0.3

Family type 

Two parents .................................................................................................. 156.1 0.04 0.0

One parent..................................................................................................... 113.2 0.27 0.Nonparent guardian(s) ................................................................................. 29.5 0.16 0.7

Parents’ language spoken most at home4

Both/only parent(s) speak(s) English ......................................................... 158.1 0.10 0.0

One of two parents speaks English ............................................................. 29.9 0.23 0.2

No parent speaks English ............................................................................ 64.2 0.11 0.2

Mother’s level of education5

Less than a high school................................................................................ 52.8 0.13 0.3

High school/GED......................................................................................... 132.6 0.08 0.

Vocational/technical or some college......................................................... 148.5 0.28 0.Bachelor’s degree......................................................................................... 102.0 0.06 0.Graduate or professional education or degree............................................ 107.6 0.07 0.

Mother’s school enrollment status5

Enrolled......................................................................................................... 104.5 0.10 0.

Not enrolled.................................................................................................. 181.8 0.11 0.0

See notes at end of table 
46

Table 10-A. Standard errors for the mean child-to-care provider ratio for children from birth through age 5 and not yet i

weekly nonparental care arrangements, by child and family characteristics: 2005—continued 

Mean number of children per care prov

Characteristic 

Number of children 

(thousands) Relative Nonrelati

Mother’s employment status5

35 or more hours per week ...................................................................... 171.2 0.05 0.0Less than 35 hours per week ................................................................... 128.2 0.07 0.Looking for work ..................................................................................... 95.2 1.38 0.3

Not in the labor force ............................................................................... 105.9 0.08 0.

Mother’s work shift 5, 6

Regular shift ............................................................................................. 174.6 0.04 0.0

Variable shift ............................................................................................ 83.1 0.12 0.2

Neighborhood conditions7

Concern regarding neighborhood health and safety conditions............ 150.2 0.46 0.2

No concern regarding neighborhood health and safety conditions....... 169.5 0.04 0.0

Household income 

$25,000 or less.......................................................................................... 96.8 0.29 0.

$25,001 to $50,000 .................................................................................. 97.0 0.05 0.

$50,001 to $75,000 .................................................................................. 87.5 0.10 0.

$75,001 to $100,000 ................................................................................ 93.3 0.10 0.

$100,001 or more...................................................................................... 105.7 0.08 0.

Poverty status8

At or above poverty threshold ................................................................. 140.8 0.04 0.0

Below poverty threshold .......................................................................... 94.5 0.37 0.2

1Estimates indicate number of children per care provider, per child, across relative, nonrelative, and center-based arrangements. For children with more than one arrangement of a s

provider ratio is calculated for each child. 

2Center-based arrangements include day care centers, Head Start programs, preschools, prekindergartens, and other early childhood programs. 3“Other race, non-Hispanic” includes children who were multiracial and not of Hispanic ethnicity, or who were American Indian or Alaska Native, or were not Hispanic, White, Bla4Complete descriptions of the categories for parents’ language are as follows: (1) “Both/only parent(s) learned English as child(ren) or currently speak(s) English in the home,” (2) 

child or currently speaks English in the home,” and (3) “No parent learned English as a child and both/only parent(s) currently speak(s) a non-English language in the home.”

5Children without mothers living in the household are not included in estimates related to mother’s education, enrollment, employment status, or work shift.

6Work shifts were collapsed into two categories: regular and variable work shifts. A regular work shift is one with set hours. A variable shift is one that changes from days to even

hours are set by the employer or the employee.

7Parents or guardians respond “yes” or “no” to the question: “Are there any conditions in your neighborhood that make you worried about the health or safety of ((CHILD)/any of the 8Children are considered poor if they were living in households with incomes below the poverty threshold, which is a dollar amount determined by the federal government to meet t

and composition. NOTE: Estimates include all children from birth through 5 years of age, and not yet in kindergarten, with at least one weekly nonparental care arrangement. Children with multiple 

estimates. Detail may not sum to totals because of rounding. SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Early Childhood Program Participation Survey of the National Household Education Surveys Pr
47

Table 11. Percentage of children from birth through age 5 and not yet in kindergarten whose parents reported various sou

about child care providers, by arrangement type and child and family characteristics: 2005 

Child care information source 

Characteristic 

Number of 

children 

(thousands) Friends 

Place of 

employment 

Public or 

private 

school 

Place of 

worship Ads1 

Parent/ 

guardian 

knew 

provider 

Attended 

by another 

child in 

household 

Total ...................................................................... 9,524 54 5 6 6 8 8 6 

Arrangement type

 Nonrelative .............................................................. 2,770 69 4 3 7 6 10 6 

 Center-based2........................................................... 7,400 50 6 8 6 9 8 7 

Child’s age  Less than 1 year....................................................... 863 56 7 1 6 9 6 5  1-2 years................................................................... 2,972 56 6 3 4 8 8 6  3-5 years................................................................... 5,688 52 4 9 7 8 8 7 Child’s sex Male ......................................................................... 5,026 52 6 7 5 8 9 6  Female...................................................................... 4,498 56 5 6 7 8 7 6 Child’s race/ethnicity  White, non-Hispanic ............................................... 5,751 55 6 6 7 9 8 7  Black, non-Hispanic................................................ 1,518 51 3 6 3 8 9 5  Hispanic ................................................................... 1,420 54 3 8 4 7 6 5  Asian or Pacific Islander, non-Hispanic ................ 275 56 11 10 8 7 5 3 Other race, non-Hispanic3....................................... 559 43 4 7 6 5 11 9 

Family type  Two parents ............................................................. 7,262 54 6 7 7 8 8 6  One parent................................................................ 2,096 53 2 5 4 9 8 7  Nonparent guardian(s) ............................................ 166 51 ‡ 11! 4! 7! 10 ‡ 

Parents’ language spoken most at home4

Both/only parent(s) speak(s) English .................... 8,602 54 5 6 6 9 8 6 One of two parents speaks English ........................ 158 38 3! 11 11! ‡ 7! ‡ No parent speaks English ....................................... 763 59 5 9 4 5 3 5 

Mother’s level of education5

 Less than a high school........................................... 475 41 1! 14 1! 4! 7 8 

 High school/GED.................................................... 2,153 53 2 6 4 7 8 8 

 Vocational/technical or some college.................... 2,611 49 6 7 8 10 10 6  Bachelor’s degree.................................................... 2,453 56 6 5 6 8 7 5  Graduate or professional education or 

degree................................................................ 1,640 61 7 5 5 8 7 7 

See notes at end of table.
48

Table 11. Percentage of children from birth through age 5 and not yet in kindergarten whose parents reported various sou

child care providers, by arrangement type and child and family characteristics: 2005—continued

Child care information source 

Characteristic 

Number of 

children 

(thousands) Friends 

Place of 

employment 

Public or 

private 

school 

Place of 

worship Ads1 

Parent/ 

Guardian 

knew provider 

Atten

anoth

in hou

Mother’s school enrollment status5 Enrolled......................................................................... 1,442 51 6 9 4 10 7 

 Not enrolled.................................................................. 7,889 54 5 6 6 8 8 

Mother’s employment status5

 35 or more hours per week .......................................... 4,686 55 7 5 4 8 9  Less than 35 hours per week ....................................... 2,202 57 5 6 7 8 9  Looking for work ......................................................... 417 47 ‡ 5 ‡ 6 5  Not in the labor force ................................................... 2,027 49 2 11 9 9 5 Mother’s work shift5, 6

 Regular shift ................................................................. 6,153 55 7 5 5 8 9  Variable shift ............................................................... 735 60 3 5 3 8 10! Neighborhood conditions7

 Concern regarding neighborhood health and safety 

conditions ............................................................. 1,422 50 3 9 7 7 7 

 No concern regarding neighborhood health and 

safety conditions.................................................. 8,101 54 5 6 6 9 8 

Household income  $25,000 or less.............................................................. 2,082 47 3 7 3 9 9 

 $25,001 to $50,000 ...................................................... 1,926 51 6 8 8 9 11 

 $50,001 to $75,000 ...................................................... 2,105 56 6 7 7 8 7 

 $75,001 to $100,000 .................................................... 1,499 59 5 5 6 7 6 

 $100,001 or more.......................................................... 1,912 57 5 5 7 9 7 

Poverty status8

 At or above poverty threshold ..................................... 7,931 56 5 6 7 8 8  Below poverty threshold .............................................. 1,593 44 4 6 2 10 9 

!Interpret data with caution; coefficient of variation is 50 percent or more. ‡Reporting standards not met. 1“Ads” includes advertisements in newspapers, newsletters, and magazines, as well as commercials on radios and televisions. “Bulletin boards/flyers/drove/walked by” includes poste

programs that respondents walked or drove by. 

2Center-based arrangements include day care centers, Head Start programs, preschools, prekindergartens, and other early childhood programs.

3“Other race, non-Hispanic” includes children who were multiracial and not of Hispanic ethnicity, or who were American Indian or Alaska Native, or were not Hispanic, White, Bla

4Complete descriptions of the categories for parents’ language are as follows: (1) “Both/only parent(s) learned English as child(ren) or currently speak(s) English in the home,” (2) 

currently speaks English in the home,” and (3) “No parent learned English as a child and both/only parent(s) currently speak(s) a non-English language in the home.”

5Children without mothers living in the household are not included in estimates related to mother’s education, enrollment, employment status, or work shift.

6Work shifts were collapsed into two categories: regular and variable work shifts. A regular work shift is one with set hours. A variable shift is one that changes from days to even

are set by the employer or the employee.

7Parents or guardians respond “yes” or “no” to the question: “Are there any conditions in your neighborhood that make you worried about the health or safety of ((CHILD)/any of the 8Children are considered poor if they were living in households with incomes below the poverty threshold, which is a dollar amount determined by the federal government to meet t

composition. NOTE: Estimates include all children from birth through 5 years of age, and not yet in kindergarten, with at least one weekly nonrelative or center-based care arrangement. Childre

included because parents were not asked about the source from which they learned of arrangement. Children with multiple arrangements are included in estimates, therefore percen

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Early Childhood Program Participation Survey of the National Household Education Surveys Pr
49

Table 11-A. Standard errors for the percentage of children from birth through age 5 and not yet in kindergarten whose p

information about child care providers, by arrangement type and child and family characteristics: 2005 

Child care information source 

Characteristic 

Number of 

children 

(thousands) Friends 

Place of 

employment 

Public or private 

school 

Place of 

worship Ads1 

Parent/ 

guardian 

knew 

provider 

Total ................................................................... 159.5 1.1 0.6 0.5 0.5 0.6 0.8 

Arrangement type

Nonrelative ........................................................... 108.4 2.0 0.8 0.5 1.0 1.1 1.2 Center-based2........................................................ 123.9 1.3 0.7 0.7 0.6 0.8 0.8 

Child’s age 

Less than 1 year.................................................... 47.5 3.8 2.3 0.5 1.6 2.4 1.4 

1-2 years................................................................ 106.2 2.0 1.1 0.5 0.7 1.1 1.3 

3-5 years................................................................ 90.5 1.4 0.6 0.8 0.7 0.7 1.0 

Child’s sex

Male ...................................................................... 141.7 1.7 1.0 0.7 0.6 0.8 1.2 

Female................................................................... 117.6 1.7 0.8 0.7 0.8 0.9 0.8 

Child’s race/ethnicity 

White, non-Hispanic ............................................ 132.3 1.3 0.9 0.6 0.7 0.9 1.0 

Black, non-Hispanic............................................. 81.1 3.5 1.1 1.4 0.9 1.8 1.8 

Hispanic ................................................................ 62.3 2.4 1.1 0.9 0.9 1.1 1.1 

Asian or Pacific Islander, non-Hispanic ............. 30.6 5.9 4.1 3.1 4.0 2.7 2.1 

Other race, non-Hispanic3.................................... 53.7 4.4 1.4 2.7 1.7 1.6 3.3 

Family type 

Two parents .......................................................... 147.0 1.3 0.7 0.7 0.6 0.7 0.9 

One parent............................................................. 107.2 3.1 1.0 0.9 1.4 1.5 1.3 

Nonparent guardian(s) ......................................... 28.6 9.9 ‡ 6.9! 2.3! 3.9! 4.2 

Parents’ language spoken most at home4

Both/only parent(s) speak(s) English ................. 157.1 1.1 0.7 0.6 0.5 0.7 0.8 One of two parents speaks English ..................... 27.2 7.4 1.8! 4.2 6.2! ‡ 4.2! No parent speaks English .................................... 52.8 3.5 1.8 1.6 1.6 1.2 0.6 

Mother’s level of education5

Less than a high school........................................ 41.0 4.4 1.0! 3.1 0.7! 3.1! 2.3 

High school/GED................................................. 114.7 2.6 0.6 0.9 0.8 1.3 1.4 

Vocational/technical or some college................. 111.5 2.5 1.3 1.1 0.9 1.2 1.9 

Bachelor’s degree................................................. 95.0 2.7 1.6 0.9 0.8 1.2 1.0 

Graduate or professional education or 

degree............................................................. 93.5 2.0 1.4 1.0 1.0 1.6 1.7 

See notes at end of table.
50

Table 11-A. Standard errors for the percentage of children from birth through age 5 and not yet in kindergarten whose p

information about child care providers, by arrangement type and child and family characteristics: 2005—con

Child care information source 

Characteristic 

Number of 

children 

(thousands) Friends 

Place of 

employment 

Public or 

private 

school 

Place of 

worship Ads1 

Parent/ 

Guardian 

knew provider 

At

ano

in h

Mother’s school enrollment status5

Enrolled...................................................................... 83.9 3.2 1.7 1.5 1.1 1.9 1.5 Not enrolled............................................................... 160.3 1.2 0.7 0.5 0.5 0.7 0.9 

Mother’s employment status5

35 or more hours per week ....................................... 158.8 1.6 0.9 0.6 0.5 0.9 1.1 

Less than 35 hours per week .................................... 107.2 2.5 1.5 0.8 1.2 1.2 2.0 

Looking for work ...................................................... 53.6 5.7 ‡ 1.5 ‡ 1.7 1.7 Not in the labor force ................................................ 94.5 2.1 0.5 1.3 1.2 1.5 1.2 

Mother’s work shift5, 6

Regular shift .............................................................. 167.3 1.4 0.9 0.6 0.6 0.8 0.9 

Variable shift ............................................................. 64.9 4.4 1.1 1.1 1.0 2.1 5.0! 

Neighborhood conditions7

Concern regarding neighborhood health and 

safety conditions ................................................ 103.5 3.4 1.0 1.4 1.4 1.2 1.8 

No concern regarding neighborhood health and 

safety conditions ................................................ 162.4 1.2 0.7 0.6 0.5 0.7 0.8 

Household income 

$25,000 or less........................................................... 93.2 2.7 1.4 1.1 0.7 1.5 2.0 

$25,001 to $50,000 ................................................... 85.6 2.6 1.8 1.5 1.3 1.6 1.8 $50,001 to $75,000 ................................................... 80.7 2.3 1.2 1.0 1.2 1.1 1.5 $75,001 to $100,000 ................................................. 82.4 3.1 1.2 1.1 0.9 1.1 1.3 

$100,001 or more....................................................... 95.8 2.3 1.0 1.1 1.3 1.5 1.3 

Poverty status8

At or above poverty threshold .................................. 143.5 1.2 0.7 0.6 0.6 0.6 0.7 

Below poverty threshold ........................................... 85.7 3.4 1.7 1.1 0.9 1.9 2.6 

!Interpret data with caution; coefficient of variation is 50 percent or more. ‡Reporting standards not met. 1“Ads” includes advertisements in newspapers, newsletters, and magazines, as well as commercials on radios and televisions. “Bulletin boards/flyers/drove/walked by” includes poste

programs that respondents walked or drove by. 

2Center-based arrangements include day care centers, Head Start programs, preschools, prekindergartens, and other early childhood programs.

3“Other race, non-Hispanic” includes children who were multiracial and not of Hispanic ethnicity, or who were American Indian or Alaska Native, or were not Hispanic, White, Bla

4Complete descriptions of the categories for parents’ language are as follows: (1) “Both/only parent(s) learned English as child(ren) or currently speak(s) English in the home,” (2) 

currently speaks English in the home,” and (3) “No parent learned English as a child and both/only parent(s) currently speak(s) a non-English language in the home.”

5Children without mothers living in the household are not included in estimates related to mother’s education, enrollment, employment status, or work shift.

6Work shifts were collapsed into two categories: regular and variable work shifts. A regular work shift is one with set hours. A variable shift is one that changes from days to even

set by the employer or the employee.

7Parents or guardians respond “yes” or “no” to the question: “Are there any conditions in your neighborhood that make you worried about the health or safety of ((CHILD)/any of the 8Children are considered poor if they were living in households with incomes below the poverty threshold, which is a dollar amount determined by the federal government to meet t

composition. NOTE: Estimates include all children from birth through 5 years of age, and not yet in kindergarten, with at least one weekly nonrelative or center-based care arrangement. Childre

included because parents were not asked about the source from which they learned of arrangement. Children with multiple arrangements are included in estimates, therefore percen

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Early Childhood Program Participation Survey of the National Household Education Surveys Pr
51

Table 12. Percentage of children from birth through age 5 and not yet in kindergarten who receive sick child care, by arra

child and family characteristics: 2005 

Sick child care by type of nonparental care arrangeme

Children with at least one weekly 

nonparental care arrangement1 Relative Nonrelative 

Characteristic 

Number of 

children 

(thousands) 

Receives care 

when sick 

with no fever 

Receives care 

when sick 

with fever 

Receives care 

when sick with 

no fever 

Receives care 

when sick with 

fever 

Receives care 

when sick with 

no fever 

Receives care 

when sick with 

fever 

R

wh

Total .......................................................... 12,344 61 36 91 75 83 39 

Child’s age  Less than 1 year........................................... 1,471 78 48 93 79 84 34  1-2 years....................................................... 4,262 69 40 88 72 81 40  3-5 years....................................................... 6,611 53 31 93 77 84 40 Child’s sex Male ............................................................. 6,411 60 35 90 74 82 36  Female.......................................................... 5,934 63 38 92 76 84 42 Child’s race/ethnicity  White, non-Hispanic ................................... 7,088 61 35 95 79 86 38  Black, non-Hispanic.................................... 2,039 61 37 84 73 83 45  Hispanic ....................................................... 2,096 61 37 87 64 70 40  Asian or Pacific Islander, 

non-Hispanic ........................................ 348 56 28 93 72 88 29 

 Other race, non-Hispanic4........................... 773 69 48 89 84 83 31 

Family type  Two parents ................................................. 9,168 59 32 92 72 82 36  One parent.................................................... 2,961 69 48 89 81 85 51  Nonparent guardian(s) ................................ 216 69 52 95 91 61 44 

Parents’ language spoken most at home5

Both/only parent(s) speak(s) English ........ 11,090 62 37 92 77 85 39 One of two parents speaks English ............ 210 52 29 72 62 66 43 No parent speaks English ........................... 1,044 54 30 81 51 56 32 

Mother’s level of education6

 Less than a high school............................... 730 64 39 86 61 60 41  High school/GED........................................ 3,104 68 44 93 82 87 39 

 Vocational/technical or some college........ 3,504 64 37 88 74 78 35  Bachelor’s degree........................................ 2,845 51 26 90 71 82 32  Graduate or professional education or 

degree.................................................... 1,905 60 33 96 74 89 47 

Mother’s school enrollment status6

 Enrolled........................................................ 1,894 62 37 91 76 82 39 

 Not enrolled................................................. 10,194 61 36 91 75 83 38 

See notes at end of table.
52

Table 12. Percentage of children from birth through age 5 and not yet in kindergarten who receive sick child care, by arra

child and family characteristics: 2005—continued 

Sick child care by type of nonparental care arrangeme

Children with at least one 

weekly nonparental care 

arrangement1 Relative Nonrelative 

Characteristic 

Number of 

children 

(thousands) 

Receives 

care when 

sick with no 

fever 

Receives 

care when 

sick with 

fever 

Receives care 

when sick with 

no fever 

Receives care 

when sick with 

fever 

Receives care 

when sick with 

no fever 

Receives care 

when sick with 

fever 

Rec

when 

Mother’s employment status6 35 or more hours per week ................................ 6,078 69 38 92 76 86 38  Less than 35 hours per week ............................. 2,978 64 42 94 76 80 37  Looking for work ............................................... 652 60 38 69 64 74 40 

 Not in the labor force ......................................... 2,380 38 22 89 72 72 41 Mother’s work shift6, 7

 Regular shift ....................................................... 7,985 68 38 92 75 85 36  Variable shift ...................................................... 1,071 66 49 95 80 80 52 Neighborhood conditions8

 Concern regarding neighborhood health and 

safety conditions......................................... 2,018 60 39 85 70 84 45 

 No concern regarding neighborhood health 

and safety conditions.................................. 10,327 62 36 93 76 83 38 

Household income  $25,000 or less.................................................... 3,008 64 44 87 75 74 46 

 $25,001 to $50,000 ............................................ 2,767 66 40 93 76 80 34 

 $50,001 to $75,000 ............................................ 2,635 63 30 92 69 82 28 

 $75,001 to $100,000 .......................................... 1,775 58 29 89 76 92 34 

 $100,001 or more................................................ 2,159 53 33 96 83 86 53 

Poverty status9

 At or above poverty threshold ........................... 10,017 62 35 93 76 85 37 

 Below poverty threshold .................................... 2,328 61 42 86 72 70 47 

!Interpret data with caution; coefficient of variation is 50 percent or more. 1Estimates indicate the percentage of children with sick child care in at least one arrangement across all arrangements of all types. 2For children with more than one arrangement of a given type, estimates indicate that there is sick child care in at least one arrangement of that type. 3Center-based arrangements include day care centers, Head Start programs, preschools, prekindergartens, and other early childhood programs.

4“Other race, non-Hispanic” includes children who were multiracial and not of Hispanic ethnicity, or who were American Indian or Alaska Native, or were not Hispanic, White, Bla

5Complete descriptions of the categories for parents’ language are as follows: (1) “Both/only parent(s) learned English as child(ren) or currently speak(s) English in the home,” (2) 

child or currently speaks English in the home,” and (3) “No parent learned English as a child and both/only parent(s) currently speak(s) a non-English language in the home.”

6Children without mothers living in the household are not included in estimates related to mother’s education, enrollment, employment status, or work shift.

7Work shifts were collapsed into two categories: regular and variable work shifts. A regular work shift is one with set hours. A variable shift is one that changes from days to even

hours are set by the employer or the employee.

8Parents or guardians respond “yes” or “no” to the question: “Are there any conditions in your neighborhood that make you worried about the health or safety of ((CHILD)/any of the 9Children are considered poor if they were living in households with incomes below the poverty threshold, which is a dollar amount determined by the federal government to meet t

and composition. NOTE: Estimates include all children from birth through 5 years of age, and not yet in kindergarten, with at least one weekly nonparental care arrangement. Detail may not sum to 

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Early Childhood Program Participation Survey of the National Household Education Surveys Pr
53

Table 12-A. Standard errors for the percentage of children from birth through age 5 and not yet in kindergarten who rece

arrangement type and child and family characteristics: 2005 

Sick child care by type of nonparental care arrangeme

Children with at least one weekly 

nonparental care arrangement1 Relative Nonrelative 

Characteristic 

Number of 

children 

(thousands) 

Receives care 

when sick 

with no fever 

Receives care 

when sick 

with fever 

Receives care 

when sick with 

no fever 

Receives care 

when sick with 

fever 

Receives care 

when sick with 

no fever 

Receives care 

when sick with 

fever 

Re

whe

Total .......................................................... 158.5 1.1 1.0 1.6 2.0 1.6 2.1 

Child’s age 

Less than 1 year........................................... 64.8 2.4 2.5 1.9 3.0 3.3 4.3 1-2 years....................................................... 110.5 2.0 1.8 3.1 3.5 2.1 3.1 

3-5 years....................................................... 84.0 1.3 1.2 1.4 2.2 2.0 3.1 

Child’s sex

Male ............................................................. 143.2 1.5 1.3 1.5 2.1 2.1 2.4 

Female.......................................................... 145.4 1.7 1.5 2.3 2.8 2.0 2.9 

Child’s race/ethnicity 

White, non-Hispanic ................................... 119.6 1.4 1.3 0.8 2.0 1.9 2.9 

Black, non-Hispanic.................................... 79.0 3.5 3.1 8.3 8.1 6.5 7.3 Hispanic ....................................................... 60.4 1.9 1.7 2.4 3.3 3.5 4.3 Asian or Pacific Islander, 

non-Hispanic ........................................ 36.2 4.9 5.9 4.7 10.6 6.1 11.9 

Other race, non-Hispanic4........................... 63.5 4.0 4.4 3.6 4.3 5.8 8.6 

Family type 

Two parents ................................................. 156.1 1.2 1.0 1.0 2.1 1.9 2.4 

One parent.................................................... 113.2 2.6 2.3 4.7 4.5 3.5 5.4 

Nonparent guardian(s) ................................ 29.5 7.5 8.3 5.0 5.5 21.0 21.9 

Parents’ language spoken most at home5

Both/only parent(s) speak(s) English ........ 158.1 1.2 1.1 1.7 2.1 1.6 2.4 One of two parents speaks English ............ 29.9 7.6 6.5 9.1 9.9 15.5 19.6 No parent speaks English ........................... 64.2 3.0 3.0 4.4 6.2 6.6 6.0 

Mother’s level of education6

Less than a high school............................... 52.8 3.1 4.0 4.8 6.4 8.6 8.6 

High school/GED........................................ 132.6 2.0 2.1 1.4 2.8 2.4 5.0 

Vocational/technical or some college........ 148.5 2.4 2.3 4.8 4.7 3.2 3.8 

Bachelor’s degree........................................ 102.0 2.2 2.0 2.5 3.8 3.1 3.7 

Graduate or professional education or 

degree.................................................... 107.6 2.0 2.4 1.6 4.9 2.5 5.3 

Mother’s school enrollment status6

Enrolled........................................................ 104.5 2.8 2.3 2.2 3.8 4.9 5.1 

Not enrolled................................................. 181.8 1.3 1.2 1.9 2.4 1.6 2.1 

See notes at end of table. 
54

Table 12-A. Standard errors for the percentage of children from birth through age 5 and not yet in kindergarten who rece

arrangement type and child and family characteristics: 2005—continued 

Sick child care by type of nonparental care arrangem

Children with at least one weekly 

nonparental care arrangement1 Relative Nonrelative 

Characteristic 

Number of 

children 

(thousands) 

Receives care 

when sick with 

no fever 

Receives care 

when sick with 

fever 

Receives care 

when sick with 

no fever 

Receives care 

when sick with 

fever 

Receives care 

when sick with 

no fever 

Receives care 

when sick with 

fever 

R

wh

Mother’s employment status6

35 or more hours per week ........................... 171.2 1.4 1.4 1.3 1.9 1.6 2.4 

Less than 35 hours per week ........................ 128.2 2.0 2.1 1.2 2.9 3.5 4.2 

Looking for work .......................................... 95.2 8.5 6.2 22.8 21.4 11.0 16.1 

Not in the labor force .................................... 105.9 2.1 1.6 3.8 5.4 6.1 7.2 

Mother’s work shift6, 7

Regular shift .................................................. 174.6 1.2 1.2 1.1 2.0 1.6 2.3 

Variable shift ................................................. 83.1 4.1 3.8 1.5 4.1 6.8 7.7 

Neighborhood conditions8

Concern regarding neighborhood health 

and safety conditions ............................. 150.2 3.3 3.0 8.0 6.9 4.5 5.8 

No concern regarding neighborhood 

health and safety conditions.................. 169.5 1.1 1.1 1.0 1.8 1.6 2.2 

Household income 

$25,000 or less............................................... 96.8 2.8 2.4 4.9 4.9 4.8 5.3 

$25,001 to $50,000 ....................................... 97.0 2.0 1.9 1.7 2.4 3.3 3.9 

$50,001 to $75,000 ....................................... 87.5 2.1 2.0 1.6 4.5 3.4 3.5 

$75,001 to $100,000 ..................................... 93.3 2.9 2.4 3.5 4.3 2.2 4.5 

$100,001 or more........................................... 105.7 2.5 2.4 1.5 3.7 2.8 4.8 

Poverty status9

At or above poverty threshold ...................... 140.8 1.1 1.1 0.9 1.8 1.6 2.2 

Below poverty threshold ............................... 94.5 3.3 3.0 6.2 6.0 6.2 6.7 

!Interpret data with caution; coefficient of variation is 50 percent or more. 1Estimates indicate the percentage of children with sick child care in at least one arrangement across all arrangements of all types. 2For children with more than one arrangement of a given type, estimates indicate that there is sick child care in at least one arrangement of that type. 3Center-based arrangements include day care centers, Head Start programs, preschools, prekindergartens, and other early childhood programs.

4“Other race, non-Hispanic” includes children who were multiracial and not of Hispanic ethnicity, or who were American Indian or Alaska Native, or were not Hispanic, White, Bla

5Complete descriptions of the categories for parents’ language are as follows: (1) “Both/only parent(s) learned English as child(ren) or currently speak(s) English in the home,” (2) 

child or currently speaks English in the home,” and (3) “No parent learned English as a child and both/only parent(s) currently speak(s) a non-English language in the home.”

6Children without mothers living in the household are not included in estimates related to mother’s education, enrollment, employment status, or work shift.

7Work shifts were collapsed into two categories: regular and variable work shifts. A regular work shift is one with set hours. A variable shift is one that changes from days to even

hours are set by the employer or the employee.

8Parents or guardians respond “yes” or “no” to the question: “Are there any conditions in your neighborhood that make you worried about the health or safety of ((CHILD)/any of the 9Children are considered poor if they were living in households with incomes below the poverty threshold, which is a dollar amount determined by the federal government to meet t

and composition. NOTE: Estimates include all children from birth through 5 years of age, and not yet in kindergarten, with at least one weekly nonparental care arrangement. Detail may not sum to 

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Early Childhood Program Participation Survey of the National Household Education Surveys Pr
55

Table 13. Percentage of children from birth through age 5 and not yet in kindergarten who received various health care s

center-based care provider, by Head Start designation and child and family characteristics: 2005 

Characteristic 

Number of children 

(thousands) 

Hearing, speech, 

 or vision testing Physical examinations 

Formal 

Total .................................................................................... 7,400 36 10 

Head Start status of arrangement  Attends Head Start at center................................................. 997 72 36 

 Does not attend Head Start at center.................................... 6,403 31 6 Child’s age  Less than 1 year..................................................................... 408 13 4!  1-2 years................................................................................. 1,830 22 6  3-5 years................................................................................. 5,161 43 12 Child’s sex

 Male ....................................................................................... 3,987 37 9  Female.................................................................................... 3,412 35 11 Child’s race/ethnicity  White, non-Hispanic ............................................................. 4,310 35 5  Black, non-Hispanic.............................................................. 1,284 44 19  Hispanic ................................................................................. 1,077 38 17  Asian or Pacific Islander, non-Hispanic .............................. 244 30 17 

 Other race, non-Hispanic1..................................................... 484 28 9 

Family type  Two parents ........................................................................... 5,573 34 7  One parent.............................................................................. 1,685 42 19  Nonparent guardian(s) .......................................................... 142 52 16 

Parents’ language spoken most at home2

Both/only parent(s) speak(s) English .................................. 6,677 36 8 

One of two parents speaks English ...................................... 138 26 26 No parent speaks English ..................................................... 584 42 26 

Mother’s level of education3

 Less than a high school......................................................... 384 61 38 

 High school/GED.................................................................. 1,736 44 17 

 Vocational/technical or some college.................................. 1,975 35 6 

 Bachelor’s degree.................................................................. 1,958 31 5  Graduate or professional education or degree.................... 1,184 28 3 Mother’s school enrollment status3

 Enrolled.................................................................................. 1,187 36 8 

 Not enrolled........................................................................... 6,051 36 10 

See notes at end of table. 
56

Table 13. Percentage of children from birth through age 5 and not yet in kindergarten who received various health care s

center-based care provider, by Head Start designation and child and family characteristics: 2005—continued 

Characteristic 

Number of children 

(thousands) 

Hearing, speech, 

 or vision testing Physical examinations 

Formal t

Mother’s employment status3

 35 or more hours per week ................................................... 3,398 34 8 

 Less than 35 hours per week ................................................ 1,630 37 7  Looking for work .................................................................. 328 43 19 

 Not in the labor force ............................................................ 1,883 39 14 

Mother’s work shift3, 4

 Regular shift .......................................................................... 4,479 34 7 

 Variable shift ......................................................................... 549 39 13 

Neighborhood conditions5

 Concern regarding neighborhood health and safety 

conditions ....................................................................... 1,089 37 10 

 No concern regarding neighborhood health and safety 

conditions ....................................................................... 6,311 36 10 

Household income  $25,000 or less....................................................................... 1,715 49 25  $25,001 to $50,000 ............................................................... 1,532 41 13  $50,001 to $75,000 ............................................................... 1,516 31 2  $75,001 to $100,000 ............................................................. 1,125 31 3 

 $100,001 or more................................................................... 1,511 27 2 Poverty status6

 At or above poverty threshold .............................................. 6,073 33 6 

 Below poverty threshold ....................................................... 1,326 51 27 

!Interpret data with caution; coefficient of variation is 50 percent or more.

1“Other race, non-Hispanic” includes children who were multiracial and not of Hispanic ethnicity, or who were American Indian or Alaska Native, or were not Hispanic, White, Bla

2Complete descriptions of the categories for parents’ language are as follows: (1) “Both/only parent(s) learned English as child(ren) or currently speak(s) English in the home,” (2) 

child or currently speaks English in the home,” and (3) “No parent learned English as a child and both/only parent(s) currently speak(s) a non-English language in the home.”

3Children without mothers living in the household are not included in estimates related to mother’s education, enrollment, employment status, or work shift.

4Work shifts were collapsed into two categories: regular and variable work shifts. A regular work shift is one with set hours. A variable shift is one that changes from days to even

hours are set by the employer or the employee.

5Parents or guardians respond “yes” or “no” to the question: “Are there any conditions in your neighborhood that make you worried about the health or safety of ((CHILD)/any of the 6Children are considered poor if they were living in households with incomes below the poverty threshold, which is a dollar amount determined by the federal government to meet t

and composition. NOTE: Estimates include all children from birth through 5 years of age, and not yet in kindergarten, with at least one weekly center-based care arrangement. Center-based arrangem

Start programs, preschools, prekindergartens, and other early childhood programs. Detail may not sum to totals because of rounding. SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Early Childhood Program Participation Survey of the National Household Education Surveys Pr
57

Table 13-A. Standard errors for the percentage of children from birth through age 5 and not yet in kindergarten who rec

care services from a weekly center-based care provider, by Head Start designation and child and family char

Characteristic 

Number of children 

(thousands) 

Hearing, speech, 

 or vision testing Physical examinations 

Formal t

Total .................................................................................... 123.9 1.3 0.8 

Head Start status of arrangement 

Attends Head Start at center................................................. 72.1 3.4 3.0 

Does not attend Head Start at center.................................... 117.3 1.4 0.7 

Child’s age 

Less than 1 year..................................................................... 39.5 3.9 2.2! 

1-2 years................................................................................. 82.5 2.5 1.4 

3-5 years................................................................................. 77.8 1.4 0.9 

Child’s sex

Male ....................................................................................... 118.8 1.7 0.9 

Female.................................................................................... 104.8 1.7 1.3 

Child’s race/ethnicity 

White, non-Hispanic ............................................................. 104.0 2.0 0.9 

Black, non-Hispanic.............................................................. 72.9 3.6 2.7 

Hispanic ................................................................................. 54.7 2.8 2.4 

Asian or Pacific Islander, non-Hispanic .............................. 29.3 5.0 5.1 

Other race, non-Hispanic1..................................................... 52.4 4.2 3.0 

Family type 

Two parents ........................................................................... 118.3 1.4 0.7 One parent.............................................................................. 88.4 2.9 2.2 Nonparent guardian(s) .......................................................... 26.9 10.8 7.0 

Parents’ language spoken most at home2

Both/only parent(s) speak(s) English .................................. 121.6 1.4 0.8 

One of two parents speaks English ...................................... 27.1 6.9 9.2 No parent speaks English ..................................................... 49.1 4.2 3.6 

Mother’s level of education3

Less than a high school......................................................... 39.1 5.6 5.4 High school/GED.................................................................. 101.5 2.6 2.1 

Vocational/technical or some college.................................. 99.0 2.4 1.1 Bachelor’s degree.................................................................. 86.0 2.6 1.1 Graduate or professional education or degree.................... 71.9 2.8 0.9 

Mother’s school enrollment status3

Enrolled.................................................................................. 75.2 3.1 1.6 Not enrolled........................................................................... 128.0 1.5 0.9 

See notes at end of table. 
58

Table 13-A. Standard errors for the percentage of children from birth through age 5 and not yet in kindergarten who rec

care services from a weekly center-based care provider, by Head Start designation and child and family charcontinued 

Characteristic 

Number of children 

 (thousands) 

Hearing, speech, 

 or vision testing Physical examinations 

Formal t

Mother’s employment status3

35 or more hours per week ................................................... 127.7 1.6 0.9 

Less than 35 hours per week ................................................ 87.5 2.9 1.3 

Looking for work .................................................................. 45.9 5.9 4.5 Not in the labor force ............................................................ 90.8 2.5 2.0 

Mother’s work shift3, 4

Regular shift .......................................................................... 126.4 1.4 0.7 

Variable shift ......................................................................... 56.1 4.4 3.8 

Neighborhood conditions5

Concern regarding neighborhood health and safety 

conditions ....................................................................... 90.1 2.6 2.4 

No concern regarding neighborhood health and safety 

conditions ....................................................................... 124.7 1.5 0.7 

Household income 

$25,000 or less....................................................................... 96.4 3.5 2.5 

$25,001 to $50,000 ............................................................... 78.2 3.2 2.1 $50,001 to $75,000 ............................................................... 67.8 2.2 0.7 $75,001 to $100,000 ............................................................. 69.5 2.6 0.8 

$100,001 or more................................................................... 79.4 1.8 0.8 

Poverty status6

At or above poverty threshold .............................................. 120.7 1.3 0.7 Below poverty threshold ....................................................... 85.7 4.0 3.1 

!Interpret data with caution; coefficient of variation is 50 percent or more. 1“Other race, non-Hispanic” includes children who were multiracial and not of Hispanic ethnicity, or who were American Indian or Alaska Native, or were not Hispanic, White, Bla

2Complete descriptions of the categories for parents’ language are as follows: (1) “Both/only parent(s) learned English as child(ren) or currently speak(s) English in the home,” (2) 

child or currently speaks English in the home,” and (3) “No parent learned English as a child and both/only parent(s) currently speak(s) a non-English language in the home.”

3Children without mothers living in the household are not included in estimates related to mother’s education, enrollment, employment status, or work shift.

4Work shifts were collapsed into two categories: regular and variable work shifts. A regular work shift is one with set hours. A variable shift is one that changes from days to even

hours are set by the employer or the employee.

5Parents or guardians respond “yes” or “no” to the question: “Are there any conditions in your neighborhood that make you worried about the health or safety of ((CHILD)/any of the 6Children are considered poor if they were living in households with incomes below the poverty threshold, which is a dollar amount determined by the federal government to meet t

and composition. NOTE: Estimates include all children from birth through 5 years of age, and not yet in kindergarten, with at least one weekly center-based care arrangement. Center-based arrangem

Start programs, preschools, prekindergartens, and other early childhood programs. Detail may not sum to totals because of rounding. SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Early Childhood Program Participation Survey of the National Household Education Surveys Pr
59

Table 14. Percentage of children from birth through age 5 and not yet in kindergarten enrolled in a weekly center-based p

location, by child and family characteristics: 2005 

Location of center-based care arrangement(s)1 

Characteristic 

Number of children 

(thousands) 

Church, 

synagogue, or 

other place of 

worship 

Public school 

(K-12) 

Private school 

(K-12) 

Community 

center Its own buildin

Total ................................................................. 7,400 25 17 9 3 3

Child’s age  Less than 1 year.................................................. 408 12 2 2! 1! 6 1-2 years.............................................................. 1,830 21 4 9 3 5 3-5 years.............................................................. 5,161 28 23 9 4 3Child’s sex

 Male .................................................................... 3,987 24 19 9 3 3 Female................................................................. 3,412 27 15 9 3 4Child’s race/ethnicity  White, non-Hispanic .......................................... 4,310 33 13 9 3 3 Black, non-Hispanic........................................... 1,284 11 20 5 2 5 Hispanic .............................................................. 1,077 12 30 11 5 3 Asian or Pacific Islander, non-Hispanic ........... 244 21 19 13 3! 3 Other race, non-Hispanic2.................................. 484 25 15 8 3! 3

Family type  Two parents ........................................................ 5,573 29 16 10 4 3 One parent........................................................... 1,685 16 19 6 3 5 Nonparent guardian(s) ....................................... 142 9 35 10! ‡ 3

Parents’ language spoken most at home3

Both/only parent(s) speak(s) English ............... 6,677 27 15 8 3 4One of two parents speaks English ................... 138 9 35 12 9 3No parent speaks English .................................. 584 12 36 15 6 2

Mother’s level of education4

 Less than a high school...................................... 384 10 42 5 5 3

 High school/GED............................................... 1,736 18 22 5 4 4

 Vocational/technical or some college............... 1,975 28 16 8 2 3 Bachelor’s degree............................................... 1,958 31 13 13 4 3 Graduate or professional education or 

Degree.......................................................... 1,184 29 9 11 3 4

Mother’s school enrollment status4

 Enrolled............................................................... 1,187 20 12 8 3 4

 Not enrolled........................................................ 6,051 27 18 9 3 3

See notes at end of table. 
60

Table 14. Percentage of children from birth through age 5 and not yet in kindergarten enrolled in a weekly center-based p

location, by child and family characteristics: 2005—continued 

Location of center-based arrangement(s)1 

Characteristic 

Number of children 

(thousands) 

Church, 

synagogue, or 

other place of 

worship 

Public school 

(K-12) 

Private school 

(K-12) 

Community 

center Its own buildin

Mother’s employment status4 35 or more hours per week ................................ 3,398 18 14 9 2 5 Less than 35 hours per week ............................. 1,630 29 15 8 6 3 Looking for work ............................................... 328 18 21 5 5! 4

 Not in the labor force ......................................... 1,883 38 22 9 4 2Mother’s work shift4, 5

 Regular shift ....................................................... 4,479 20 14 9 3 4 Variable shift ...................................................... 549 32 18 6 6 2Neighborhood conditions6

 Concern regarding neighborhood health and 

safety conditions......................................... 1,089 20 19 12 3 3

 No concern regarding neighborhood health 

and safety conditions.................................. 6,311 26 17 8 3 3

Household income  $25,000 or less.................................................... 1,715 17 24 4 3 4

 $25,001 to $50,000 ............................................ 1,532 19 23 7 4 3 $50,001 to $75,000 ............................................ 1,516 29 15 8 4 3 $75,001 to $100,000 .......................................... 1,125 31 12 12 3 3

 $100,001 or more................................................ 1,511 33 8 15 3 3

Poverty status7

 At or above poverty threshold ........................... 6,073 27 16 10 4 3

 Below poverty threshold .................................... 1,326 17 23 5 3 4

!Interpret data with caution; coefficient of variation is 50 percent or more. ‡Reporting standards not met. 1Center-based arrangements include day care centers, Head Start programs, preschools, prekindergartens, and other early childhood programs.

2“Other race, non-Hispanic” includes children who were multiracial and not of Hispanic ethnicity, or who were American Indian or Alaska Native, or were not Hispanic, White, Bla

3Complete descriptions of the categories for parents’ language are as follows: (1) “Both/only parent(s) learned English as child(ren) or currently speak(s) English in the home,” (2) 

child or currently speaks English in the home,” and (3) “No parent learned English as a child and both/only parent(s) currently speak(s) a non-English language in the home.”

4Children without mothers living in the household are not included in estimates related to mother’s education, enrollment, employment status, or work shift.

5Work shifts were collapsed into two categories: regular and variable work shifts. A regular work shift is one with set hours. A variable shift is one that changes from days to even

hours are set by the employer or the employee.

6Parents or guardians respond “yes” or “no” to the question: “Are there any conditions in your neighborhood that make you worried about the health or safety of ((CHILD)/any of the 7Children are considered poor if they were living in households with incomes below the poverty threshold, which is a dollar amount determined by the federal government to meet t

and composition. NOTE: Estimates include all children from birth through 5 years of age, and not yet in kindergarten, with at least one weekly center-based care arrangement. Center-based arrangem

Start programs, preschools, prekindergartens, and other early childhood programs. Detail may not sum to totals because of rounding. SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Early Childhood Program Participation Survey of the National Household Education Surveys Pr
61

Table 14-A. Standard errors for the percentage of children from birth through age 5 and not yet in kindergarten enrolled 

based program at a specified location, by child and family characteristics: 2005 

Location of center-based care arrangement(s)1 

Characteristic 

Number of children 

(thousands) 

Church, 

synagogue, or 

other place of 

worship 

Public school 

(K-12) 

Private school 

(K-12) 

Community 

center Its own buildin

Total ................................................................. 123.9 1.1 0.8 0.7 0.4 1

Child’s age 

Less than 1 year.................................................. 39.5 3.9 1.0 1.2! 0.7! 5

1-2 years.............................................................. 82.5 2.1 1.0 1.6 0.8 2

3-5 years.............................................................. 77.8 1.3 1.2 0.7 0.5 1

Child’s sex

Male .................................................................... 118.8 1.6 1.2 1.0 0.6 1

Female................................................................. 104.8 1.5 1.1 0.8 0.6 1

Child’s race/ethnicity 

White, non-Hispanic .......................................... 104.0 1.5 0.9 1.0 0.6 1

Black, non-Hispanic........................................... 72.9 2.7 2.6 1.5 0.9 3

Hispanic .............................................................. 54.7 1.5 2.7 1.8 1.0 2

Asian or Pacific Islander, 

non-Hispanic ............................................... 29.3 5.2 5.3 3.9 1.9! 5

Other race, non-Hispanic2.................................. 52.4 5.1 3.4 2.2 1.6! 4

Family type 

Two parents ........................................................ 118.3 1.2 0.9 0.9 0.5 1

One parent........................................................... 88.4 2.5 2.1 1.1 1.1 2

Nonparent guardian(s) ....................................... 26.9 3.5 10.3 5.3! ‡ 11

Parents’ language spoken most at home3

Both/only parent(s) speak(s) English ............... 121.6 1.2 0.8 0.7 0.5 1One of two parents speaks English ................... 27.1 3.5 9.5 4.9 3.8 8No parent speaks English .................................. 49.1 2.4 3.6 2.6 1.5 3

Mother’s level of education4

Less than a high school...................................... 39.1 3.4 5.1 2.3 1.8 5

High school/GED............................................... 101.5 2.4 2.3 0.9 1.1 2

Vocational/technical or some college............... 99.0 2.5 1.7 1.3 0.6 2

Bachelor’s degree............................................... 86.0 2.4 1.7 1.8 0.9 2Graduate or professional education or 

degree........................................................... 71.9 2.7 1.6 1.9 1.0 2

Mother’s school enrollment status4

Enrolled............................................................... 75.2 3.3 1.6 1.6 0.8 3Not enrolled........................................................ 128.0 1.2 0.9 0.8 0.5 1

See notes at end of table. 
62

Table 14-A. Standard errors for the percentage of children from birth through age 5 and not yet in kindergarten enrolled 

based program at a specified location, by child and family characteristics: 2005—continued 

Location of center-based arrangement(s)1 

Characteristic 

Number of children 

(thousands) 

Church, 

synagogue, or 

other place of 

worship 

Public school 

(K-12) 

Private school 

(K-12) 

Community 

center Its own buildin

Mother’s employment status4

35 or more hours per week ................................ 127.7 1.7 1.2 1.0 0.5 2.Less than 35 hours per week ............................. 87.5 2.5 1.9 1.9 1.1 2.Looking for work ............................................... 45.9 5.2 5.6 2.0 3.1! 6.

Not in the labor force ......................................... 90.8 2.2 2.1 1.0 0.9 1.

Mother’s work shift4, 5

Regular shift ....................................................... 126.4 1.4 1.0 1.0 0.5 1.

Variable shift ...................................................... 56.1 6.0 3.5 1.7 1.6 3.

Neighborhood conditions6

Concern regarding neighborhood health and 

safety conditions......................................... 90.1 2.1 2.5 1.9 1.1 3.

No concern regarding neighborhood health 

and safety conditions .................................. 124.7 1.2 0.7 0.7 0.5 1.

Household income 

$25,000 or less.................................................... 96.4 2.9 2.1 1.0 0.8 3.

$25,001 to $50,000 ............................................ 78.2 2.0 2.4 2.1 1.3 2.$50,001 to $75,000 ............................................ 67.8 1.9 1.8 1.2 1.0 2.$75,001 to $100,000 .......................................... 69.5 3.3 1.7 1.9 0.9 3.

$100,001 or more................................................ 79.4 2.7 1.4 1.8 0.9 2.

Poverty status7

At or above poverty threshold ........................... 120.7 1.2 0.8 0.8 0.5 1.

Below poverty threshold .................................... 85.7 3.7 2.7 1.1 1.0 3.

!Interpret data with caution; coefficient of variation is 50 percent or more. ‡Reporting standards not met. 1Center-based arrangements include day care centers, Head Start programs, preschools, prekindergartens, and other early childhood programs.

2“Other race, non-Hispanic” includes children who were multiracial and not of Hispanic ethnicity, or who were American Indian or Alaska Native, or were not Hispanic, White, Bla

3Complete descriptions of the categories for parents’ language are as follows: (1) “Both/only parent(s) learned English as child(ren) or currently speak(s) English in the home,” (2) 

child or currently speaks English in the home,” and (3) “No parent learned English as a child and both/only parent(s) currently speak(s) a non-English language in the home.”

4Children without mothers living in the household are not included in estimates related to mother’s education, enrollment, employment status, or work shift.

5Work shifts were collapsed into two categories: regular and variable work shifts. A regular work shift is one with set hours. A variable shift is one that changes from days to even

hours are set by the employer or the employee.

6Parents or guardians respond “yes” or “no” to the question: “Are there any conditions in your neighborhood that make you worried about the health or safety of ((CHILD)/any of the 7Children are considered poor if they were living in households with incomes below the poverty threshold, which is a dollar amount determined by the federal government to meet t

and composition. NOTE: Estimates include all children from birth through 5 years of age, and not yet in kindergarten, with at least one weekly center-based care arrangement. Center-based arrangem

Start programs, preschools, prekindergartens, and other early childhood programs. Detail may not sum to totals because of rounding. 

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Early Childhood Program Participation Survey of the National Household Education Surveys Pr
63

Table 15. Percentage of children from birth through age 5 and not yet in kindergarten whose parents rated fact

weekly care arrangement for children as “very important,” by child and family characteristics: 2005

Factor rated as “very important” when selecting care arrangement 

Characteristic 

Number of 

children 

(thousands) Location Cost Reliability 

Learning 

activities 

Time with 

other children 

Availability of 

care provider 

Total .......................................................... 12,325 63 40 89 75 65 75 

Arrangement Type1

 Relative........................................................ 3,394 68 48 90 64 39 84 

 Nonrelative .................................................. 2,291 65 37 90 58 53 80 

 Center-based................................................ 6,640 60 36 89 87 82 68 

Child’s age  Less than 1 year........................................... 1,460 65 44 93 65 44 82  1-2 years....................................................... 4,255 68 43 90 70 60 81  3-5 years....................................................... 6,610 60 37 88 81 73 69 Child’s sex

 Male ............................................................. 6,398 62 40 89 74 65 74  Female.......................................................... 5,927 64 39 90 77 65 75 Child’s race/ethnicity  White, non-Hispanic ................................... 7,082 55 32 89 72 62 70  Black, non-Hispanic.................................... 2,029 82 59 94 87 73 88  Hispanic ....................................................... 2,094 74 48 86 76 69 78  Asian or Pacific Islander, 

non-Hispanic ........................................ 348 72 37 85 81 60 73 

 Other race, non-Hispanic2........................... 772 62 39 88 75 64 78 

Family type  Two parents ................................................. 9,156 60 35 89 73 63 71  One parent.................................................... 2,953 74 53 92 82 69 84  Nonparent guardian(s) ................................ 216 80 49 90 83 74 91 

Parents’ language spoken most at home3

Both/only parent(s) speak(s) English ........ 11,071 62 39 90 75 64 75 One of two parents speaks English ............ 210 80 47 83 86 79 74 No parent speaks English ........................... 1,044 75 50 82 74 70 76 

Mother’s level of education4

 Less than a high school............................... 723 69 48 80 81 75 80 

 High school/GED........................................ 3,103 72 48 90 82 72 79 

 Vocational/technical or some college........ 3,504 61 46 90 73 65 75  Bachelor’s degree........................................ 2,840 58 32 89 73 61 69  Graduate or professional education or 

degree.................................................... 1,900 61 24 91 71 53 73 

See notes at end of table. 
64

Table 15. Percentage of children from birth through age 5 and not yet in kindergarten whose parents rated factors used to 

arrangement for children as “very important,” by child and family characteristics: 2005—continued 

Factor rated as “very important” when selecting care arrangement 

Characteristic 

Number of 

children 

(thousands) Location Cost Reliability 

Learning 

activities 

Time with 

other children 

Availability of 

care provider 

Mother’s school enrollment status4 Enrolled............................................................... 1,894 67 45 90 79 67 79 

 Not enrolled........................................................ 10,176 63 39 89 75 64 74 

Mother’s employment status4

 35 or more hours per week ................................ 6,069 68 42 92 76 62 83 

 Less than 35 hours per week ............................. 2,976 59 37 88 70 59 70  Looking for work ............................................... 647 75 56 86 86 71 78 

 Not in the labor force ......................................... 2,378 55 33 86 79 77 59 

Mother’s work shift4, 5

 Regular shift ....................................................... 7,976 66 41 91 74 61 80 

 Variable shift ...................................................... 1,069 58 39 91 71 62 71 Neighborhood conditions6

 Concern regarding neighborhood health and 

safety conditions ......................................... 2,018 68 49 90 78 66 78 

 No concern regarding neighborhood health 

and safety conditions .................................. 10,307 62 38 89 75 65 74 

Household income  $25,000 or less.................................................... 2,999 74 54 88 79 71 81 

 $25,001 to $50,000 ............................................ 2,758 64 50 89 77 67 77  $50,001 to $75,000 ............................................ 2,635 59 38 90 72 62 72  $75,001 to $100,000 .......................................... 1,775 54 27 91 77 63 74 

 $100,001 or more................................................ 2,157 60 20 88 71 59 66 Poverty status7

 At or above poverty threshold ........................... 10,007 60 37 90 74 63 73 

 Below poverty threshold .................................... 2,318 76 53 88 80 72 80 

1Center-based arrangements include day care centers, Head Start programs, preschools, prekindergartens, and other early childhood programs.

2“Other race, non-Hispanic” includes children who were multiracial and not of Hispanic ethnicity, or who were American Indian or Alaska Native, or were not Hispanic, White, Bla

3Complete descriptions of the categories for parents’ language are as follows: (1) “Both/only parent(s) learned English as child(ren) or currently speak(s) English in the home,” (2) 

child or currently speaks English in the home,” and (3) “No parent learned English as a child and both/only parent(s) currently speak(s) a non-English language in the home.”

4Children without mothers living in the household are not included in estimates related to mother’s education, enrollment, employment status, or work shift.

5Work shifts were collapsed into two categories: regular and variable work shifts. A regular work shift is one with set hours. A variable shift is one that changes from days to even

hours are set by the employer or the employee.

6Parents or guardians respond “yes” or “no” to the question: “Are there any conditions in your neighborhood that make you worried about the health or safety of ((CHILD)/any of the 7Children are considered poor if they were living in households with incomes below the poverty threshold, which is a dollar amount determined by the federal government to meet t

and composition. NOTE: Estimates are reported for all children from birth through 5 years of age, and not yet in kindergarten, who are in at least one weekly nonparental care arrangement. If a chilarrangement with the greatest average weekly hours was used. If two arrangements had the same number of weekly hours, one arrangement was randomly chosen by the computer-

program. Detail may not sum to totals because of rounding. SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Early Childhood Program Participation Survey of the National Household Education Surveys Pr
65

Table 15-A. Standard errors for the percentage of children from birth through age 5 and not yet in kindergarten whose p

used to select weekly care arrangement for children as “very important,” by child and family characteristics: 

Factor rated as “very important” when selecting care arrangement 

Characteristic 

Number of 

children 

(thousands) Location Cost Reliability 

Learning 

activities 

Time with 

other children 

Availability of 

care provider 

Total .......................................................... 158.1 1.1 1.1 0.6 0.8 1.0 0.9 

Arrangement Type1 

Relative........................................................ 131.7 2.0 2.2 1.0 2.0 2.3 1.5 

Nonrelative .................................................. 101.2 2.1 2.0 1.4 2.1 2.0 1.8 

Center-based................................................ 130.0 1.6 1.3 0.7 1.0 1.1 1.1 

Child’s age 

Less than 1 year........................................... 63.9 2.9 2.9 1.4 2.3 2.7 2.4 

1-2 years....................................................... 111.0 1.8 1.9 0.8 1.5 2.0 1.3 

3-5 years....................................................... 84.0 1.4 1.1 0.8 1.0 1.2 1.2 

Child’s sex

Male ............................................................. 141.7 1.4 1.3 0.7 1.2 1.4 1.2 

Female.......................................................... 146.2 1.6 1.4 0.8 1.3 1.6 1.4 

Child’s race/ethnicity 

White, non-Hispanic ................................... 118.8 1.5 1.2 0.7 1.2 1.3 1.3 

Black, non-Hispanic.................................... 79.0 1.9 3.1 1.2 2.2 2.7 2.0 

Hispanic ....................................................... 60.2 1.7 2.3 1.5 1.7 1.7 1.8 

Asian or Pacific Islander, 

non-Hispanic ........................................ 36.2 4.8 4.7 3.6 3.5 5.3 4.5 

Other race, non-Hispanic2........................... 63.6 4.1 4.1 2.4 3.4 4.1 3.0 

Family type 

Two parents ................................................. 155.7 1.4 1.0 0.6 1.0 1.2 1.1 

One parent.................................................... 113.0 1.9 2.5 1.2 1.8 2.2 1.6 

Nonparent guardian(s) ................................ 29.5 7.6 8.0 3.8 4.2 6.0 2.9 

Parents’ language spoken most at home3

Both/only parent(s) speak(s) English ........ 157.6 1.2 1.2 0.6 0.9 1.1 1.0 One of two parents speaks English ............ 29.9 4.5 7.2 4.8 4.1 4.8 6.6 No parent speaks English ........................... 64.2 2.5 3.0 2.3 2.4 2.3 2.5 

Mother’s level of education4

Less than a high school............................... 52.7 4.0 4.2 3.0 2.7 3.3 2.7 

High school/GED........................................ 132.5 2.1 2.1 1.6 1.6 2.1 1.8 

Vocational/technical or some college........ 148.5 2.0 2.4 1.0 2.1 1.6 1.8 

Bachelor’s degree........................................ 102.2 2.3 2.0 1.1 1.7 2.3 2.0 

Graduate or professional education or 

degree.................................................... 106.4 2.4 2.1 1.1 2.5 2.4 2.1 

See notes at end of table. 
66

Table 15-A. Standard errors for the percentage of children from birth through age 5 and not yet in kindergarten whose p

used to select weekly care arrangement for children as “very important,” by child and family characteristics: 

Factor rated as “very important” when selecting care arrangement 

Characteristic 

Number of 

children 

(thousands) Location Cost Reliability 

Learning 

activities 

Time with 

other children 

Availability of 

care provider 

Mother’s school enrollment status4

Enrolled............................................................... 104.5 2.5 2.7 1.7 1.8 2.3 2.0 

Not enrolled........................................................ 181.5 1.3 1.2 0.7 1.0 1.1 1.0 

Mother’s employment status4

35 or more hours per week ................................ 170.6 1.6 1.4 0.7 1.2 1.5 1.3 

Less than 35 hours per week ............................. 127.9 2.1 2.0 1.0 1.9 2.0 2.1 Looking for work ............................................... 95.0 5.4 7.5 4.2 3.9 5.2 4.6 

Not in the labor force ......................................... 105.7 2.3 2.0 1.4 1.8 1.7 2.0 

Mother’s work shift4, 5

Regular shift ....................................................... 174.1 1.2 1.2 0.6 1.0 1.3 1.0 

Variable shift ...................................................... 82.8 3.6 3.5 1.7 3.0 3.5 3.6 

Neighborhood conditions6

Concern regarding neighborhood health and 

safety conditions ......................................... 150.2 2.8 3.8 1.8 2.6 2.8 2.2 

No concern regarding neighborhood health 

and safety conditions .................................. 168.3 1.2 1.0 0.6 0.8 1.2 1.0 

Household income 

$25,000 or less.................................................... 96.7 2.5 2.6 1.3 1.8 2.1 1.8 

$25,001 to $50,000 ............................................ 97.4 1.8 2.0 1.4 1.4 2.2 1.9 $50,001 to $75,000 ............................................ 87.5 2.3 2.2 1.1 2.0 2.0 2.0 $75,001 to $100,000 .......................................... 93.3 2.4 2.3 1.2 2.1 2.7 2.1 

$100,001 or more................................................ 105.6 2.3 1.6 1.3 2.1 2.6 2.4 

Poverty status7

At or above poverty threshold ........................... 140.8 1.3 1.0 0.6 0.9 1.2 1.1 

Below poverty threshold .................................... 94.2 2.6 2.8 1.5 2.3 2.4 2.3 

1Center-based arrangements include day care centers, Head Start programs, preschools, prekindergartens, and other early childhood programs.

2“Other race, non-Hispanic” includes children who were multiracial and not of Hispanic ethnicity, or who were American Indian or Alaska Native, or were not Hispanic, White, Bla

3Complete descriptions of the categories for parents’ language are as follows: (1) “Both/only parent(s) learned English as child(ren) or currently speak(s) English in the home,” (2) 

child or currently speaks English in the home,” and (3) “No parent learned English as a child and both/only parent(s) currently speak(s) a non-English language in the home.”

4Children without mothers living in the household are not included in estimates related to mother’s education, enrollment, employment status, or work shift.

5Work shifts were collapsed into two categories: regular and variable work shifts. A regular work shift is one with set hours. A variable shift is one that changes from days to even

hours are set by the employer or the employee.

6Parents or guardians respond “yes” or “no” to the question: “Are there any conditions in your neighborhood that make you worried about the health or safety of ((CHILD)/any of the 7Children are considered poor if they were living in households with incomes below the poverty threshold, which is a dollar amount determined by the federal government to meet t

and composition. NOTE: Estimates are reported for all children from birth through 5 years of age, and not yet in kindergarten, who are in at least one weekly nonparental care arrangement. If a chilarrangement with the greatest average weekly hours was used. If two arrangements had the same number of weekly hours, one arrangement was randomly chosen by the computer-

program. Detail may not sum to totals because of rounding. SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Early Childhood Program Participation Survey of the National Household Education Surveys Pr
67

Table 16. Percentage of children from age 3 through age 5 and not yet in kindergarten whose parents reported participati

with child in the past week, by type of involvement and child and family characteristics: 2005 

Home activities with child in past week 

Characteristic 

Number of 

children 

(thousands) Read to child Told a story 

Taught letters, words, 

or numbers Taught songs or music 

Total .......................................................... 9,066 98 86 95 83 

Child’s sex Male ............................................................. 4,707 97 86 94 81  Female.......................................................... 4,359 98 86 96 84 Child’s race/ethnicity  White, non-Hispanic ................................... 5,177 100 87 94 82  Black, non-Hispanic.................................... 1,233 98 82 96 84  Hispanic ....................................................... 1,822 92 84 94 82  Asian or Pacific Islander, 

non-Hispanic ........................................ 282 96 91 97 76 

 Other race, non-Hispanic1........................... 552 100 89 95 89 

Family type  Two parents ................................................. 7,007 98 86 95 83  One parent.................................................... 1,870 97 84 94 81  Nonparent guardian(s) ................................ 189 96 87 92 78 

Parents’ language spoken most at home2

Both/only parent(s) speak(s) English ........ 7,792 99 87 95 83 One of two parents speaks English ............ 219 91 81 96 84 No parent speaks English ........................... 1,055 89 78 92 76 

Mother’s level of education3

 Less than a high school............................... 886 92 75 91 71 

 High school/GED........................................ 2,687 97 84 95 83 

 Vocational/technical or some college........ 2,461 99 88 95 86  Bachelor’s degree........................................ 1,832 99 88 96 84  Graduate or professional education or 

degree.................................................... 997 99 93 96 82 

Mother’s school enrollment status3

 Enrolled........................................................ 1,078 98 85 95 84  Not enrolled................................................. 7,785 98 86 95 83 

See notes at end of table. 
68

Table 16. Percentage of children from age 3 through age 5 and not yet in kindergarten whose parents reported participati

with child in the past week, by type of involvement and child and family characteristics: 2005—continued 

Home activities with child in past week 

Characteristic 

Number of 

children 

(thousands) Read to child Told a story 

Taught letters, words, 

or numbers Taught songs or music 

Mother’s employment status3 35 or more hours per week ........................... 3,250 98 85 95 83 

 Less than 35 hours per week ........................ 2,027 98 88 95 81  Looking for work .......................................... 543 98 87 95 84 

 Not in the labor force .................................... 3,043 97 86 95 83 

Mother’s work shift3, 4

 Regular shift .................................................. 4,496 98 85 94 83 

 Variable shift ................................................. 780 100 89 97 79 

Neighborhood conditions5

 Concern regarding neighborhood health 

and safety conditions ............................. 1,350 98 86 96 84 

 No concern regarding neighborhood 

health and safety conditions.................. 7,716 98 86 95 82 

Household income  $25,000 or less............................................... 2,463 97 83 95 82  $25,001 to $50,000 ....................................... 2,424 97 87 94 83  $50,001 to $75,000 ....................................... 1,849 99 87 95 85  $75,001 to $100,000 ..................................... 1,099 99 84 95 77 

 $100,001 or more........................................... 1,231 99 90 96 82 Poverty status6

 At or above poverty threshold ...................... 7,095 98 86 95 82 

 Below poverty threshold ............................... 1,971 97 84 95 83 

1“Other race, non-Hispanic” includes children who were multiracial and not of Hispanic ethnicity, or who were American Indian or Alaska Native, or were not Hispanic, White, Bla

2Complete descriptions of the categories for parents’ language are as follows: (1) “Both/only parent(s) learned English as child(ren) or currently speak(s) English in the home,” (2) 

child or currently speaks English in the home,” and (3) “No parent learned English as a child and both/only parent(s) currently speak(s) a non-English language in the home.”

3Children without mothers living in the household are not included in estimates related to mother’s education, enrollment, employment status, or work shift.

4Work shifts were collapsed into two categories: regular and variable work shifts. A regular work shift is one with set hours. A variable shift is one that changes from days to even

hours are set by the employer or the employee.

5Parents or guardians respond “yes” or “no” to the question: “Are there any conditions in your neighborhood that make you worried about the health or safety of ((CHILD)/any of the 6Children are considered poor if they were living in households with incomes below the poverty threshold, which is a dollar amount determined by the federal government to meet t

and composition. NOTE: Estimates include all children 3 through 5 years of age, and not yet in kindergarten. Detail may not sum to totals because of rounding. SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Early Childhood Program Participation Survey of the National Household Education Surveys Pr
69

Table 16-A. Standard errors for the percentage of children from age 3 through age 5 and not yet in kindergarten whose p

participation in home activities with child in the past week, by type of involvement and child and family char

Home activities with child in past week 

Characteristic 

Number of 

children 

(thousands) Read to child Told a story 

Taught letters, words, or 

numbers Taught songs or music 

Total .......................................................... 9.0 0.4 0.8 0.4 0.8 

Child’s sex

Male ............................................................. 99.2 0.5 1.1 0.6 1.0 

Female.......................................................... 99.6 0.4 1.1 0.5 1.2 

Child’s race/ethnicity 

White, non-Hispanic ................................... 80.2 0.1 0.9 0.6 1.1 

Black, non-Hispanic.................................... 57.1 0.9 2.8 1.2 2.8 

Hispanic ....................................................... 50.0 1.5 1.7 0.9 1.7 

Asian or Pacific Islander, 

non-Hispanic ........................................ 31.7 3.8 3.1 1.5 5.2 

Other race, non-Hispanic1........................... 48.3 0.4 3.9 2.0 2.5 

Family type 

Two parents ................................................. 68.3 0.4 0.9 0.5 0.9 

One parent.................................................... 67.2 0.8 1.6 1.2 2.5 

Nonparent guardian(s) ................................ 30.5 2.6 4.9 3.3 6.2 

Parents’ language spoken most at home2

Both/only parent(s) speak(s) English ........ 57.4 0.2 0.8 0.5 0.9 One of two parents speaks English ............ 34.3 4.9 7.4 2.7 4.8 No parent speaks English ........................... 50.2 2.2 2.6 1.7 3.0 

Mother’s level of education3

Less than a high school............................... 59.4 1.6 3.1 1.7 3.2 

High school/GED........................................ 117.9 0.7 1.7 0.8 1.8 

Vocational/technical or some college........ 88.7 0.5 1.4 0.9 1.5 

Bachelor’s degree........................................ 72.2 0.6 1.8 0.8 1.9 

Graduate or professional education or 

degree.................................................... 51.5 0.5 1.3 1.2 2.1 

Mother’s school enrollment status3

Enrolled........................................................ 67.3 0.9 2.4 1.3 2.5 

Not enrolled................................................. 73.5 0.4 0.9 0.5 0.9 

See notes at end of table. 
70

Table 16-A. Standard errors for the percentage of children from age 3 through age 5 and not yet in kindergarten whose p

participation in home activities with child in the past week, by type of involvement and child and family char

continued 

Home activities with child in past week 

Characteristic 

Number of 

children 

(thousands) Read to child Told a story 

Taught letters, words, or 

numbers Taught songs or music 

Mother’s employment status3

35 or more hours per week ........................... 105.1 0.5 1.6 0.7 1.4 Less than 35 hours per week ........................ 84.1 0.7 1.4 0.8 1.8 

Looking for work .......................................... 63.7 1.1 3.5 2.3 3.6 Not in the labor force .................................... 96.5 0.6 1.4 0.9 1.4 

Mother’s work shift3, 4

Regular shift .................................................. 114.4 0.6 1.2 0.6 1.1 

Variable shift ................................................. 60.8 0.3 2.4 1.1 3.2 

Neighborhood conditions5

Concern regarding neighborhood health 

and safety conditions ............................. 83.1 0.8 1.9 1.2 2.4 

No concern regarding neighborhood 

health and safety conditions................... 83.6 0.4 0.8 0.5 0.9 

Household income 

$25,000 or less............................................... 63.4 0.8 1.8 0.9 2.0 

$25,001 to $50,000 ....................................... 69.7 0.8 1.4 0.8 1.4 

$50,001 to $75,000 ....................................... 70.3 0.3 1.8 1.1 1.5 

$75,001 to $100,000 ..................................... 61.0 1.0 2.9 1.1 2.7 

$100,001 or more........................................... 63.4 0.7 1.8 1.1 2.1 

Poverty status6

At or above poverty threshold ...................... 62.9 0.4 0.9 0.5 0.9 Below poverty threshold ............................... 63.7 0.9 1.9 0.9 2.2 

1“Other race, non-Hispanic” includes children who were multiracial and not of Hispanic ethnicity, or who were American Indian or Alaska Native, or were not Hispanic, White, Bla

2Complete descriptions of the categories for parents’ language are as follows: (1) “Both/only parent(s) learned English as child(ren) or currently speak(s) English in the home,” (2) 

child or currently speaks English in the home,” and (3) “No parent learned English as a child and both/only parent(s) currently speak(s) a non-English language in the home.”

3Children without mothers living in the household are not included in estimates related to mother’s education, enrollment, employment status, or work shift.

4Work shifts were collapsed into two categories: regular and variable work shifts. A regular work shift is one with set hours. A variable shift is one that changes from days to even

hours are set by the employer or the employee.

5Parents or guardians respond “yes” or “no” to the question: “Are there any conditions in your neighborhood that make you worried about the health or safety of ((CHILD)/any of the 6Children are considered poor if they were living in households with incomes below the poverty threshold, which is a dollar amount determined by the federal government to meet t

composition. NOTE: Estimates include all children 3 through 5 years of age, and not yet in kindergarten. Detail may not sum to totals because of rounding. SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Early Childhood Program Participation Survey of the National Household Education Surveys Pr
71

Appendix A: 

Survey Methodology and Data Reliability 

The National Household Education Surveys Program (NHES) is a set of telephone surveys 

sponsored by the U.S. Department of Education’s National Center for Education Statistics (NCES). 

NHES surveys have focused on early childhood program participation in 1991, 1995, 1999, 2001, and 

2005. This report presents data from the Early Childhood Program Participation (ECPP) Survey of the 

2005 NHES. ECPP-NHES:2005 data collection was conducted by Westat and took place from January 3 

through April 24, 2005. This section provides a brief description of the study methodology. 

The NHES:2005 sample was selected using random-digit-dial (RDD) methods, and the data were 

collected using computer-assisted telephone interviewing (CATI) technology. The first stage of sampling 

in NHES:2005 was the selection of a sample of telephone numbers, with telephone numbers in areas with 

high percentages of Black and Hispanic residents sampled at higher rates than those in areas with low 

percentages of Black and Hispanic residents, and telephone numbers that could be matched to mailing 

addresses sampled at a higher rate than those that could not be matched to addresses. NHES:2005 

included three topical surveys: ECPP, the After-School Programs and Activities (ASPA) Survey, and the 

Adult Education (AE) Survey. In order to limit respondent burden, a within-household sampling scheme 

was developed to control the number of persons sampled for topical interviews in each household. 

Different probabilities were used to sample children depending on the characteristics of the telephone 

number and the number of eligible children in the household, and in some households more than one 

child was selected. The unequal selection probabilities and the clustering effect of sampling more than 

one child in some households were accounted for in the survey estimation procedures. The ECPP sample 

is nationally representative of all noninstitutionalized children in the 50 states and the District of 

Columbia from birth through age 6 and not yet attending kindergarten or primary school. 

The respondent to the ECPP interview was the parent or guardian in the household who knew the 

most about the child’s care and education. In the ECPP interview, respondents were routed to either the 

infant/toddler path (children newborn through 2 years of age) or the preschool path (children 3 through 6 

years of age and not yet attending kindergarten or primary school). Regardless of age/grade path, the 

respondent was asked basic demographic questions about the child, as well as questions about the child’s 

health and disability status, parent/guardian characteristics, home activities, and household characteristics. 

The infant/toddler path included questions about the child’s participation in early childhood care and 

programs (relative care, nonrelative care, and center-based programs including Early Head Start), factors 

in parental choice of care, and for 2-year-olds, literacy-related skills and activities. The preschool path 

included questions about school participation, participation in early childhood care and programs (relative 

care, nonrelative care, and center-based programs, including Head Start), factors in parental choice of 

arrangement, and literacy-related skills and activities. Multiple attempts were made to complete 

interviews with respondents not available at the time of selection. Interviews were conducted in both 

English and Spanish. The total number of completed ECPP interviews was 7,209, representing a 

weighted total of 20,690,936 children. However, 6-year-old preschoolers are atypical and too few in 

number to support separate estimates, and therefore have been excluded from this report. The estimates 

presented here are based on 7,198 interviews representing 20,665,000 children. 
72

Data Reliability and Validity

Estimates produced using data from the survey are subject to two types of error, sampling and 

nonsampling errors. Nonsampling errors are errors made in the collection and processing of data. 

Sampling errors occur because the data are collected from a sample rather than the whole population. 

Nonsampling Errors

Nonsampling error is the term used to describe variations in the estimates that may be caused by 

population coverage limitations and data collection, processing, and reporting procedures. The sources of 

nonsampling errors are typically problems like unit and item nonresponse, the differences in respondents' 

interpretations of the meaning of the questions, response differences related to the particular time the 

survey was conducted, and mistakes in data preparation. In NHES:2005, efforts were made to minimize 

nonsampling error through cognitive testing in the survey design stage, a field test of the surveys, online 

data edits and postinterview edits, and a comparison of the survey estimates with similar estimates from 

previous surveys. Weighting adjustments (in particular, nonresponse adjustments and 

poststratification/raking adjustments) were also used to minimize the potential effects of nonsampling 

error. 

An important source of nonsampling error for a telephone survey is the failure to include persons 

who do not live in households with telephones. This is particularly problematic in RDD surveys because 

so little is known about the sampled telephone numbers with which contact has not been made. The 

March 2005 Current Population Survey (CPS) shows that 92.9 percent of all children ages 6 and younger 

live in households with at least one landline telephone (based on independent tabulations of the U.S. 

Census Bureau’s March 2005 Current Population Survey). Estimation procedures were used to help 

reduce the bias in the estimates associated with excluding the 6.5 percent of children who do not live in 

households with landline telephones. 

A study conducted by Montaquila, Brick, and Brock (1997) examined telephone coverage bias 

for subsamples of the population in NHES:1996. This study found that with very few exceptions, the 

adjusted weights yielded estimates with absolute telephone coverage bias of 2 percent or less. 

Undercoverage bias for some subgroups may have been large due to larger proportions of persons in these 

subgroups residing in nontelephone households. 

Another potential source of nonsampling error is respondent bias. Respondent bias occurs when 

respondents systematically misreport (intentionally or unintentionally) information in a study. There are 

many different forms of respondent bias. One of the best known is social desirability bias, which occurs 

when respondents give what they believe is the socially desirable response (Demaio 1984). For example, 

surveys that ask about whether respondents voted in the most recent election typically obtain a higher 

estimate of the number of people who voted than do voting records. Although respondent bias may affect 

the accuracy of the results, it does not necessarily invalidate other results from a survey. If there are no 

systematic differences among specific groups under study in their tendency to give socially desirable 

responses, then comparisons of the different groups will accurately reflect differences among the groups. 

Response Rates

In the 2005 survey, Screener interviews were completed with 58,140 households, with a weighted 

Screener unit response rate of 66.9 percent. A screener was used to collect information on household 

composition and interview eligibility. ECPP interviews were completed for 7,209 children, for a weighted 

unit response rate of 84.4 percent and an overall estimated unit response rate (the product of the Screener 

unit response rate and the ECPP unit response rate) of 56.4 percent. 
73

An extensive unit nonresponse bias analysis was undertaken for NHES:2001 (See Brick et al. 

forthcoming.) It is informative to consider the results of the NHES:2001 nonresponse bias analysis, since 

the NHES-ECPP:2001 survey was similar in content, data collection procedures, and in target population 

to NHES-ECPP:2005. This study involved an analysis of the effect of weighting on estimates, as well as 

an examination of the effect of various data collection procedures (refusal conversion, second refusal 

conversion, and varying numbers of call attempts) on the estimates. For each hypothetical data collection 

scenario considered in this study, the sample was reweighted, and the estimates were compared across 

scenarios. The analysis of unit nonresponse bias showed no evidence of bias in the estimates as the data 

collection "effort" was varied. While such an analysis is unable to directly examine bias due to the 

exclusion of cases that did not respond under any of the scenarios studied, other approaches have been 

used in NHES to evaluate that bias. In NHES:2001, these other approaches involved an examination of 

unit response rates as a whole and for various subgroups, an analysis to determine characteristics that are 

associated with Screener unit nonresponse, and a comparison of estimates based on adjusted and 

unadjusted weights, and these investigations revealed no evidence of unit nonresponse bias. However, all 

such studies are limited in the variables that can be included; unit nonresponse bias may still be present in 

other variables that were not studied. 

Item nonresponse (i.e., the failure to complete some items in an otherwise completed interview) 

was very low for most items in the ECPP-NHES:2005. The item nonresponse rate for most variables 

included in this report was 3 percent or lower. The one item with nonresponse rates larger than 10 percent 

was the item related to household income (with an item response rate of 89.7 percent). Items with missing 

data were imputed using a hot-deck procedure (Rao and Shao 1992) in which cells are formed that 

contain cases with similar characteristics and a donor value is used to impute the missing value. The 

estimates included in this report are based on the imputed data. Users can employ the imputation flags to 

delete the imputed values, use alternative imputation procedures, or account for the imputation in 

computation of the reliability of the estimates produced from the dataset. For example, some users might 

wish to analyze the data with the missing values rather than the imputed values. 

Sampling Errors 

The sample of telephone households selected for the 2005 survey is just one of many possible 

samples that could have been selected. Therefore, estimates produced from this sample may differ from 

estimates that would have been produced from other samples. This type of variability is called sampling 

error because it arises from using a sample of households with telephones, rather than surveying all 

households with telephones. 

The standard error is a measure of the variability due to sampling when estimating a statistic; 

standard errors for estimates presented in this report were computed using a jackknife replication method. 

Standard errors can be used as a measure of the precision expected from a particular sample. The 

probability that a sample estimate would differ from the population parameter obtained from a complete 

census count by less than 1 standard error is about 68 percent. The chance that the difference would be 

less than 1.65 standard errors is about 90 percent, and that the difference would be less than 1.96 standard 

errors, about 95 percent. 

Standard errors for all of the estimates are presented in the tables. These standard errors can be 

used to produce confidence intervals. For example, an estimated 60 percent of children from birth through 

age 5 and not yet in kindergarten have at least one regular nonparental care arrangement or early 

childhood program. This figure has an estimated standard error of 0.8 percent. Therefore, the estimated 

95 percent confidence interval for this statistic is approximately 58 to 62 percent (60 ± 1.96 (0.8)). That 

is, if the processes of selecting a sample, collecting the data, and constructing the confidence interval 
74

were repeated, it would be expected that in 95 out of 100 samples from the same population, the 

confidence interval would contain the true participation rate. 

Weighting 

All of the estimates in this report are based on weighting the observations using the probabilities 

of selection of the respondents and other adjustments to partially account for nonresponse and coverage 

bias. Weights were developed to produce unbiased and consistent estimates of national totals. The weight 

used in this E.D. TAB is FEWT, the weight variable used to estimate the characteristics of 

infants/toddlers and preschoolers. In addition to weighting the responses properly, special procedures for 

estimating the statistical significance of the estimates were employed because the NHES:2005 data were 

collected using a complex sample design. Complex sample designs result in data that violate some of the 

assumptions that are normally made when assessing the statistical significance of results from a simple 

random sample. For example, the standard errors of the estimates from these surveys may vary from those 

that would be expected if the sample were a simple random sample and the observations were 

independent and identically distributed random variables. Eighty replicate weights, FEWT1 to FEWT80, 

were used to produce estimates of the sampling errors of estimates. The estimates and standard errors 

presented in this report were produced using WesVar Complex Samples software and the jackknife 1 

option as a replication procedure (Westat 2000). 

Statistical Tests 

The tests of significance used in this E.D. TAB report are based on Student’s t statistics for the 

comparisons of individual estimates and comparisons of means. To test the differences between estimates, 

unbiased estimates of standard errors were used, derived by jackknife replication methods. To test for a 

difference between two subgroups in the population proportion having a particular characteristic, say P1 

versus P2, the test statistic is computed as: 

[ ] ( ) [ ] ( ) 2

2

2

1

2 1

s.e. p s.e. p

p p T

+

− = , 

where P1 pi is the estimated proportion of subgroup i (i = 1, 2) having the particular characteristic and 

( ) pi s.e. is the standard error of that estimate. Thus, if p1 is for the 60 percent of male children with 

nonparental care arrangements, with a standard error of 0.9, and p2 is for the 59 percent of female 

children with nonparental care arrangements, with a standard error of 1.2, then the t-value is equal to 0.67. 

The decision rule is to reject the null hypothesis (i.e., that there is no difference between the two 

groups in the population in terms of the proportion having the characteristic) if 

df

T t ;

2

> α , where 

df

t ;

2

α is 

the value such that the probability that a Student’s t random variable with df degrees of freedom exceeds 

that value is α 2 . 
75

Appendix B: 

Glossary 

The statistics, measures, and characteristics used in analyses for this E.D. TAB report are 

described below. The measures and characteristics include both core early childhood program 

participation categories and socio-demographic characteristics that are used throughout the report. The 

original variables used in analyses for this report are described below. First, demographic variables used 

in the tables are described. 

When the variable is in the Early Childhood Program Participation of the 2005 National Household 

Education Surveys Program (ECPP-NHES:2005) data file, the variable name appears in parentheses after 

the bold entry name.

STATISTICS 

Mean – The mean is one of several indices of central tendency that statisticians use to indicate 

the point on the scale of measures where the population is centered. The mean is the average of the 

scores or values in the population. Numerically, it equals the sum of the scores divided by the number of 

scores. 

Percentage – A percentage is a part of a whole expressed in hundredths. 

Standard Error – The standard error, or standard error of the mean, is an estimate of the 

standard deviation of the sampling distribution of means, based on the data from one or more random 

samples. Numerically, it is equal to the square root of the quantity obtained when the estimated variance 

of a sample estimate is divided by the size of the sample. 

HOUSEHOLD CHARACTERISTICS 

FAMILY TYPE (FAMILY05) consists of a set of family type categories using both parent and 

sibling information. It is created using HHPARN05 and NUMSIBS, which are other derived variables. 

Nonparent guardians are included in the “other” category. Nonparent guardians are persons other than 

mothers and fathers (birth, adoptive, step, or foster, and same-sex parents or partners of parents), such as 

grandparents, aunts, or uncles. Households comprising same-sex parents or partners of parents are 

included in the two-parent household categories in this derived variable. 

The values for FAMILY05 are as follows: 

1 = Two parents and sibling(s) 

2 = Two parents, no sibling 

3 = One parent and sibling(s) 

4 = One parent, no sibling 

5 = Other 

HOUSEHOLD INCOME (HINCOME) is the broad range of the household income. 

Households were asked to report the total income of all persons in the household over the past year using 

income ranges rather than exact dollars (e.g., $10,001 to 15,000, $15,001 to $20,000, etc., up to over 

$100,000). The data for the variable HINCOME were taken directly from the ECPP responses 

(questionnaire item PW19) when available. Otherwise, they were imputed.

The values of HINCOME were collapsed for presentation as follows: 

1 = $25,000 or less 
76

2 = $25,001 to $50,000 

3 = $50,001 to $75,000 

4 = $75,001 to $100,000 

5 = $100,001 or more 

HOUSEHOLD POVERTY STATUS (POVERTY): NHES provides an approximate measure of 

poverty. The income variable used to construct POVERTY was HINCOME (PW19), which listed 

possible income ranges (e.g., $10,001 to 15,000, $15,001 to $20,000, etc., up to over $100,000). If data 

for HINCOME were missing, they were imputed. Using the income ranges and household size, poverty 

thresholds were used to establish poverty status. Thresholds to define poverty were based on weighted 

averages from 2004 census poverty thresholds. A household was considered in poverty if a household of a 

particular size matched the income categories shown in table A-1 below. 

Table A-1. Poverty definition for Early Childhood Program Participation (ECPP) analysis: 2005 

Household size1 Income categories in variable HINCOME (PW19)

1 Less than or equal to $15,000

2 Less than or equal to $20,000

3 Less than or equal to $20,000

4 Less than or equal to $25,000

5 Less than or equal to $30,000

6 Less than or equal to $35,000

7 Less than or equal to $35,000

8 Less than or equal to $40,000

9+ Less than or equal to $45,000

1

Indicates the total number of individuals living in the household. 

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Early Childhood Program Participation Survey of the 

National Household Education Surveys Program (ECPP-NHES:2005). 

HOUSEHOLD TOTAL (HHTOTAL) is the counter-derived variable that indicates the total 

number of household members. 

MOTHER’S EMPLOYMENT STATUS (MOMEMPLD) indicates the employment status of 

the mother (birth/adoptive/step/foster/female guardian). This variable is derived from MOMWORK 

(PU8), MOMLEAVE (PU9), MOMHOURS (PU10), MOMLOOK (PU14), MOMAGN (PU15a), 

MOMEMPL (PU15b), MOMREL (PU15c), and MOMANSAD (PU15d). 

The values for MOMEMPLD are as follows: 

-1 = No mother or female guardian for the subject child in the household 

 1 = Working 35 hours or more per week 

 2 = Working less than 35 hours per week 

 3 = Looking for work 

 4 = Not in the labor force 

MOTHER’S LEVEL OF EDUCATION (MOMEDUC) is a measure of the educational 

attainment of the child’s mother or female guardian. This measure is derived from MOMGRADE (PU6) 

and MOMDIPL (PU7). 
77

The values for MOMEDUC are as follows: 

-1 = No mother or female guardian for the subject child in the household 

 1 = Less than high school diploma 

 2 = High school graduate or equivalent 

 3 = Vocational/technical education after high school or some college 

 4 = College graduate 

 5 = Graduate or professional school 

MOTHER’S WORK SHIFT is a measure of whether the mother’s 

(birth/adoptive/step/foster/female guardian) work shift is one with set hours. Responses indicating the 

mother “worked a regular day shift” (MOMRSFT =1) and “worked a regular shift at times other than 

between 6 am and 6 pm” (MOMVSFT =1) were coded as regular shift. Responses indicating that the 

mother worked a “variable shift that changes from days to evening,” “variable shift with hours set by 

employer”, or “when work is available” (MOMVSFT = 2, 3, or 4) were coded as variable shift. The data 

for the variables MOMRSFT (PU11) and MOMVSFT (PU12) were taken directly from the ECPP 

responses when available. Otherwise, they were imputed. 

MOTHER’S SCHOOL ENROLLMENT STATUS (MOMENROL) indicates the enrollment 

status of the mother (birth/adoptive/step/foster/female guardian) in a school, college, university, or adult 

learning center, or receiving vocational education or job training. The data for the variable MOMENROL 

(PU17) were taken directly from the ECPP responses when available. Otherwise, they were imputed.

NEIGHBORHOOD CONDITIONS (HNEIGHB) indicates parental concerns about the health 

and safety of children due to neighborhood conditions. The data for the variable HNEIGHB (PW13) 

were taken directly from the ECPP responses when available. Otherwise, they were imputed.

PARENT’S LANGUAGE (LANGUAGE) describes the language(s) spoken most often at home 

by the parent(s)/guardian(s) in the household. This measure is derived from MOMLANG (PU3), 

MOMSPEAK (PU4), DADLANG (PV3), and DADSPEAK (PV4). If these data were missing for a 

household member, they were imputed. 

The values for LANGUAGE are as follows: 

1 = Both/only parent(s) learned English first or currently speak(s) English in the home 

2 = One of two parents learned English first or currently speaks English in the home 

3 = No parent learned English first and both/only parent(s) currently speak(s) a nonEnglish language in the home 

CHILD CHARACTERISTICS 

CHILD’S AGE (AGE2004) is the sampled child’s age as of December 31, 2004. 

CHILD’S RACE/ETHNICITY (RACEETH2) indicates the race and ethnicity of the sampled 

child. Items included in this derived variable are CHISPAN (PTB2), CWHITE, CBLACK, CAMIND, 

CASIAN, CPACI, and CRACEOTH (PTB3). 

The values of RACEETH2 are as follows: 

1 = White, non-Hispanic 
78

2 = Black, non-Hispanic 

3 = Hispanic 

4 = Asian or Pacific Islander, non-Hispanic 

5 = All other races and multiple races, non-Hispanic 

CHILD’S SEX (SEX): The data for the variable SEX (PA3) were taken directly from the ECPP 

responses when available. Otherwise, they were imputed. 

CHILD CARE ARRANGEMENTS 

ANYCARE2 indicates whether the child currently participates in any nonparental care or 

program arrangements at least once each week. ANYCARE2 was created using the variables 

RCWEEK1-RCWEEK4 (ED5), indicating whether a relative care arrangement occurred at least weekly; 

NCWEEK1-NCWEEK4 (EE5), indicating whether a nonrelative care arrangement occurred at least 

weekly; and CPWEEK1-CPWEEK4 (EG6) indicating whether a center-based arrangement, including 

day care centers, Head Start programs, preschools, prekindergartens, and other early childhood programs 

occurred at least weekly. 

The values for ANYCARE2 are as follows: 

 1 = Currently participates in any care or program arrangement that occurs at 

least once each week 

 2 = Does not currently participate in any care or program arrangement that 

occurs at least once each week 

EARLY HEAD START OR HEAD START STATUS: Early Head Start and Head Start are 

federally sponsored preschool programs primarily for children from low income families. Parents are 

asked to indicate whether the child is in an Early Head Start or a Head Start center-based program 

(PCANYHD). The data for the variable PCANYHD (EH1) were taken directly from the ECPP responses 

when available. 

RELATIVE CARE TYPE (RCTYPE1-4) indicates the type of relative care arrangement. 

Responses indicated whether the relative was a “grandmother,” “grandfather,” “aunt”, “uncle,” “brother,”, 

“sister,” or “another relative” (RCTYPE1-4 = 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, or 7). The data for this variable were taken 

directly from the ECPP responses (ED3) when available. Otherwise, they were imputed. 

TIME SPENT IN NONPARENTAL CARE ARRANGEMENT 

NUMBER OF HOURS PER WEEK IN CENTER-BASED CARE (CPHRS1-4): Parents were 

asked how many hours per week their child spent in each center-based arrangement. The data for 

CPHRS1-4 (EG9) were taken directly from the ECPP responses when available. Otherwise, they were 

imputed. 

NUMBER OF HOURS PER WEEK IN NONRELATIVE CARE (NCHRS1-4): Parents were 

asked how many hours per week their child spent in each nonrelative care arrangement. The data for 

NCHRS1-4 (EE8) were taken directly from the ECPP responses when available. Otherwise, they were 

imputed. 
79

NUMBER OF HOURS PER WEEK IN RELATIVE CARE (RCHRS1-4): Parents were 

asked how many hours per week their child spent in each relative care arrangement. The data for 

RCHRS1-4 (ED8) were taken directly from the ECPP responses when available. Otherwise, they were 

imputed. 

NUMBER OF MONTHS IN CENTER-BASED CARE (CPSTRTM1-4 and CPSTRTY1-4): 

Parents were asked how old (in years and months) their child was when he or she started going to each 

center-based arrangement. The data for CPSTRTM1-4 (EG14) and CPSTRTY1-4 (EG14) were taken 

directly from the ECPP responses when available. Otherwise, they were imputed. 

NUMBER OF MONTHS IN NONRELATIVE CARE (NCSTRTM1-4 and NCSTRTY1-4): 

Parents were asked how old (in years and months) their child was when he or she started going to each 

nonrelative care arrangement. The data for NCSTRTM1-4 (EE13) and NCSTRTY1-4 (EE13) were taken 

directly from the ECPP responses when available. Otherwise, they were imputed. 

NUMBER OF MONTHS IN RELATIVE CARE (RCSTRTM1-4 and RCSTRTY1-4): Parents 

were asked how old (in years and months) their child was when he or she started going to each relative 

care arrangement. The data for RCSTRTM1-4 (ED13) and RCSTRTY1-4 (ED13) were taken directly 

from the ECPP responses when available. Otherwise, they were imputed. 

OUT-OF-POCKET EXPENSES FOR NONPARENTAL CARE 

FEE FOR CENTER-BASED CARE: Parents indicated whether there was a charge or fee for 

their center-based care arrangement (CPFEE1-4). If parents reported a charge, they were asked their outof-pocket cost (CPCOST1-4) and unit of cost for each center-based care arrangement (CPUNIT1-4). 

Examples of unit of cost are per hour, per day, per week, per month, per year, and every 2 weeks. All 

costs were converted to an hourly unit for presentation in tables 7 and 7A and weekly for tables 8 and 8A. 

The data for CPFEE1-4 (EG22), CPCOST1-4 (EG24), and CPUNIT1-4 (EG24) were taken directly from 

the ECPP responses when available. Otherwise, they were imputed. 

FEE FOR NONRELATIVE CARE: Parents indicated whether there was a charge or fee for 

their nonrelative care arrangement (NCFEE1-4). If parents reported a charge, they were asked their outof-pocket cost (NCCOST1-4) and unit of cost for each nonrelative care arrangement (NCUNIT1-4). 

Examples of unit of cost are per hour, per day, per week, per month, per year, and every 2 weeks. All 

costs were converted to an hourly unit for presentation in tables 7 and 7A and weekly for tables 8 and 8A. 

The data for NCFEE1-4 (EE23), NCCOST1-4 (EE25) and NCUNIT1-4 (EE25) were taken directly from 

the ECPP responses when available. Otherwise, they were imputed. 

FEE FOR RELATIVE CARE: Parents indicated whether there was a charge or fee for their 

relative care arrangement (RCFEE1-4). If parents reported a charge, they were asked their out-of-pocket 

cost (RCCOST104) and unit of cost for each relative care arrangement (RCUNIT1-4). Examples of unit 

of cost are per hour, per day, per week, per month, per year, and every 2 weeks. All costs were converted 

to an hourly unit for presentation in tables 7 and 7A and weekly for tables 8 and 8A. The data for 
80

RCFEE1-4 (ED19), RCCOST1-4 (ED21) and RCUNIT1-4 (ED21) were taken directly from the ECPP 

responses when available. Otherwise, they were imputed. 

ASSISTANCE FOR NONPARENTAL CARE ARRANGEMENT 

ASSISTANCE FOR CENTER-BASED CARE: Parents were asked whether they received 

assistance for each of their center-based care arrangements from various sources. The sources were: (a) a 

relative outside of the household (CPREL1-4), (b) Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, a federally 

funded program that provides assistance and work opportunities to needy families (CPTANF1-4), (c) 

another social service, welfare, or child care agency (CPSSAC1-4), (d) an employer (CPEMPL1-4), and 

(e) someone else (CPOTHER1-4). The data for CPREL1-4, CPTANF1-4, CPSSAC1-4, CPEMPL1-4, 

and CPOTHER1-4 were taken directly from the ECPP responses (EG23) when available. Otherwise, they 

were imputed. 

ASSISTANCE FOR NONRELATIVE CARE: Parents were asked whether they received 

assistance for each of their nonrelative care arrangements from various sources. The sources were: (a) a 

relative outside of the household (NCREL1-4), (b) Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, a federally 

funded program that provides assistance and work opportunities to needy families (NCTANF1-4), (c) 

another social service, welfare, or child care agency (NCSSAC1-4), (d) an employer (NCEMPL1-4), and 

(e) someone else (NCOTHER1-4). The data for NCREL1-4, NCTANF1-4, NCSSAC1-4, NCEMPL1-4, 

and NCOTHER1-4 were taken directly from the ECPP responses (EE24) when available. Otherwise, 

they were imputed. 

ASSISTANCE FOR RELATIVE CARE: Parents were asked whether they received assistance 

for each of their relative care arrangements from various sources. The sources were ( a) a relative outside 

of the household (RCREL1-4), (b) Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, a federally funded program 

that provides assistance and work opportunities to needy families (RCTANF1-4), (c) another social 

service, welfare, or child care agency (RCSSAC1-4), (d) an employer (RCEMPL1-4), and (e) someone 

else (RCOTHER1-4). The data for RCREL1-4, RCTANF1-4, RCSSAC1-4, RCEMPL1-4, and 

RCOTHER1-4 were taken directly from the ECPP responses (ED20) when available. Otherwise, they 

were imputed. 

CHILD-CARE PROVIDER RATIO 

CHILD-CARE PROVIDER RATIO IN CENTER-BASED PROGRAMS: The variables 

used to construct child-care provider ratio were CPKIDS1-4 and CPADLTS1-4. Parents were asked how 

many children were usually cared for together (CPKIDS1-4) and the total number of adults in the child’s 

room at the same time (CPADLTS1-4) for each center-based care arrangement. The data for CPKIDS1-4 

(EG15) and CPADLTS1-4 (EG16) were taken directly from the ECPP responses when available. 

Otherwise, they were imputed. Child-care provider ratio for each child’s center-based arrangement was 

calculated by dividing the total number of children cared for together by the total number of adults in the 

child’s room or group. 

CHILD-CARE PROVIDER RATIO IN NONRELATIVE CARE: The variables used to 

construct child-care provider ratio were NCKIDS1-4 and NCADLTS1-4. Parents were asked how many 

children were usually cared for together NCPKIDS1-4) and the total number of adults that usually cared 
81

for the child at the same time (NCADLTS1-4) for each nonrelative care arrangement. The data for 

NCKIDS1-4 (EE14) and NCADLTS1-4 (EE15) were taken directly from the ECPP responses when 

available. Otherwise, they were imputed. Child-care provider ratio for each child’s nonrelative care 

arrangement was calculated by dividing the total number of children cared for together by the total 

number of adults who usually cared for the child at the same time. 

CHILD-CARE PROVIDER RATIO IN RELATIVE CARE: The variables used to construct 

child-care provider ratio were RCKIDS1-4 and RCADLTS1-4. Parents were asked how many children 

were usually cared for together (RCKIDS1-4) and the total number of adults that usually cared for the 

child at the same time (RCADLTS1-4) for each relative care arrangement. The data for RCKIDS1-4 

(ED14) and RCADLTS1-4 (ED15) were taken directly from the ECPP responses when available. 

Otherwise, they were imputed. Child-care provider ratio for each child’s relative care arrangement was 

calculated by dividing the total number of children cared for together by the total number of adults who 

usually cared for the child at the same time. 

SOURCE OF INFORMATION FOR NONPARENTAL CARE 

SOURCE OF INFORMATION FOR CHILDREN’S CENTER-BASED CARE: For table 

11, parents were asked how they learned about each of their children’s center-based program. The data for 

the source of child care information were taken directly from the ECPP responses (EG17). The values for 

this variable are (a) Friends/neighbors/relative/coworkers (CPFRIEN1-4); (b) Place of employment 

(CPPLEMP1-4); (c) Public or private school (CPSCHOO1-4); (d) Church, synagogue, or other place of 

worship (CPCHURC1-4); (e) Newspapers/advertisements/yellow pages (CPADS1-4); (f) R already knew 

provider (CPKNEW1-4); (g) Provider cared for another child of R’s (CPCHILD1-4); (h) Public bulletin 

board/flyers/drove/walked by (CPBULLE1-4); and (i) all other sources, including Resource and Referral 

(R&R) agency (CPAGECPY1-4), Child care provider agency (CPCARE1-4), Reference materials 

(CPREFER1-4), Internet (CPINTR1-4), welfare or social service caseworkers (CPSOURC1-4), and other 

sources (CPSOURC1-4). 

SOURCE OF INFORMATION FOR CHILDREN’S NONRELATIVE CARE: For table 11, 

parents were asked how they learned about each of their children’s nonrelative care arrangement. The 

data for the source of child care information were taken directly from the ECPP responses (EE17). (a) 

Friends/neighbors/relative/coworkers (NCFRIEN1-4); (b) Place of employment (NCPLEMP1-4); (c) 

Public or private school (NCSCHOO1-4); (d) Church, synagogue, or other place of worship 

(NCCHURC1-4); (e) Newspapers/advertisements/yellow pages (NCADS1-4); (f) R already knew 

provider (NCKNEW1-4); (g) Provider cared for another child of R’s (NCCHILD1-4); (h) Public bulletin 

board/flyers/drove/walked by (NCBULLE1-4); and (i) all other sources, including Resource and Referral 

(R&R) agency (NCAGECPY1-4), child care provider agency (NCCARE1-4), Reference materials 

(NCREFER1-4), Internet (NCINTR1-4), welfare or social service caseworkers (NCSOURC1-4), and 

Other sources (NCSOURC1-4). 

SICK CHILD CARE 

SICK CHILD CARE AT CENTER-BASED CARE: Parents were asked to indicate whether 

each center-based program provided sick child care when the child was sick without a fever 

(CPSKNFV1-4) or sick child care when the child was sick with a fever (CPSKFV1-4). The data for 
82

CPSKNFV1-4 and CPSKFV1-4 were taken directly from the ECPP responses (EG20) when available. 

Otherwise, they were imputed. 

SICK CHILD CARE AT NONRELATIVE CARE: Parents were asked to indicate whether 

each nonrelative care arrangement provided sick child care when the child was sick without a fever 

(NCSKNFV1-4) or sick child care when the child was sick with a fever (NCSKFV1-4). The data for 

NCSKNFV1-4 and NCSKFV1-4 were taken directly from the ECPP responses (EE21) when available. 

Otherwise, they were imputed.

SICK CHILD CARE AT RELATIVE CARE (RCSKFV1-4): Parents were asked to indicate 

whether each relative care arrangement provided sick child care when the child was sick without a fever 

(RCSKNFV1-4) or sick child care when the child was sick with a fever (RCSKFV1-4). The data for 

RCSKNFV1-4 and RCSKFV1-4 were taken directly from the ECPP responses (ED17) when available. 

Otherwise, they were imputed.

HEALTH CARE SERVICE 

HEALTH CARE SERVICES RECEIVED FROM CENTER-BASED CARE: For Table 13, 

parents were asked to indicate whether each of their children’s center-based program provided the 

following services: (a) Hearing, speech, or vision testing (CPTEST1-4; (b) Physical examinations 

(CPPHYSE1-4); and (c) Formal testing for developmental or learning problems (CPDISAB1-4). The 

data for CPTEST1-4, CPPHYSE1-4, and CPDISAB1-4 were taken directly from the ECPP responses 

(EG20) when available. Otherwise they were imputed. 

LOCATION OF CARE 

LOCATION FOR CENTER-BASED PROGRAM (CPPLACE1-4): For table 14, the data for 

location of center-based care were taken directly from the ECPP responses (EG3). The values for this 

variable are: (1) own home; (2) another home; (3) a church, synagogue or other place of worship; (4) a 

public preschool or school (K-12); (5) a private preschool or school (K-12); (6) a college or university; 

(7) a community center; (8) a public library; (9) its own building; (10) a place of employment or business; 

and (11) other. 

FACTORS FOR SELECTING CARE 

ARRGMOST is the arrangement displayed at EI1. If a child has no arrangements or only one 

arrangement, ARRGMOST is set to -1. For most cases in which the child has more than one 

arrangement, the arrangement displayed is the one in which the child spends the most time per week, on 

average. 

FACTORS FOR SELECTING CARE: For each arrangement in which the child spent the 

most time, parents were asked to rate particular factors were when they chose the arrangement. Only 

responses indicating that certain factors were “very important” were included. The factors for selecting 

child care were (a) location (DLOCA = 4); (b) cost (DCOST =4); (c) reliability of arrangement (DRELY 

= 4); (d) learning activities at the arrangement (DLERN = 4); (e) child spending time with other children 
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his/her age (DCHIL = 4); (f) times during the day when the caregiver is available to provide care 

(DHROP = 4); and (g) number of other children in the care group (DNBGRP = 4). The data for DLOCA, 

DCOST, DRELY, DLERN, DCHIL, DHROP, and DNBGRP were taken directly from the ECPP 

responses (EI1) when available. Otherwise, they were imputed. 

PARENTAL PARTICIPATION IN HOME ACTIVITIES 

HOME ACTIVITIES: Parents were asked how many times they or someone in the family read 

to the child in the past week (FOREADTO), “not at all,” “once or twice,” “3 or more times,” and every 

day.” Parents were also asked whether they told a story (FOSTORY), taught letters, words, or numbers 

(FOWORDS), taught songs or music (FOMUSIC), and worked on arts and crafts (FOCRAFTS) with the 

child in the past week. The data for FOREADTO (EK1), FOSTORY (EK3), FOWORDS (EK3), 

FOMUSIC (EK3), and FOCRAFTS (EK3) were taken directly from the ECPP responses when available. 

Otherwise, they were imputed. 
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