Economic Hardship Among Home-Based Early Educators

This research highlight features a new analysis of home-based educators’ experiences with economic hardship (e.g. household income, participation in supplemental nutrition programs, and student loan debt) using the 2024 National Survey of Early Care and Education (NSECE). We found that there is significant variability in economic hardship by home-based early educators’ race and ethnicity. Our brief outlines detailed findings alongside helpful data visualizations, shares actions state and local leaders are taking to ease economic hardship for home-based early educators, and outlines where more research is needed.