Early Childhood in Boston

Summary

This report provides data regarding the supply, demand, and quality of early education and care in Boston.

Topic/Goal

To provide a reference book for Boston regarding early education and care as well as to provoke further questions about how the city will move towards a system of high-quality early education and care for all children.

Method

The data in the report was gathered from the Community Profiles surveys and other community and national sources. Wherever possible, data has been provided at the neighborhood level.

Supply Findings

• There are 972 active providers of early education and care in Boston.
  • These providers have the capacity to serve 18,876 children.
  • An estimated 71% of this capacity is for preschool-age children and 29% is for infant and toddlers.
  • Community-based and Head Start centers provide 66%, family childcare provides 23%, Boston Public Schools provides 6%, and other Licence-excempt schools provide 5% of Boston’s early education and care.
• There are an estimated 13,064 full- and part-time subsidized care slots.

Demand Findings

• There are an estimated 42,822 infant, toddler, and preschool-age children living in Boston.
  • 22,297, or 52%, are infant or toddler age (0-32 months).
  • 20,525, or 48%, are preschool age (33-64 months).
  • Approximately 10,705 (25%) of these children live below 25% of the state median income.
  • Approximately 32,973 (77%) of children live in families where all parents or primary caregivers are working.
• All measures of demand indicate a need for greater capacity to serve the children of Boston.
  • Current early education and care capacity covers 23% of the entire population of infants and toddlers and 64% of the entire preschool-age population.
  • Using a demand estimate based on children living in families with working parents, 84% of the demand is met by capacity; indicating another 3,693 slots are necessary to provide access to all children living in working families.
  • A universal demand estimate that assumes need by 50% of infants and toddlers and 77% of all preschoolers indicates that current capacity meets 46% of the infant and toddler need and 83% of the preschool need. An additional 86,111 slots are required to equate capacity with universal demand estimates.

Program Quality Findings

• 15% of program and providers across the city of Boston are NAEYC or NAFCC accredited
  • 36% of community-based and Head Start centers
  • 9% of family child care providers
  • 3% of Public School Programs

Teacher Quality Findings

• Percentages of teachers in Boston who have a bachelor’s degree or higher:
  • 100% of Boston Public School preschool teachers
  • 36% of community-based and Head Start center lead teachers
  • 14% of family child care providers.
• There is a 25% average turnover rate of teachers in community-based centers and Head Start programs.
• There is an 18% average turnover rate of Boston Public school staff, teachers, and paraprofessionals.
• Boston Pubic School teachers earn $39.07/hour on average.
• Center-based and Head Start lead teachers earn $14.00/hour on average.

For more information visit: http://www.bostonequip.org/PDF/EarlyChildhoodinBoston.pdf