Policy and Research

Measuring America's Child Care Gap

A purple map of the United States with county borders

NEW TOOL: This interactive map reveals the most complete child care supply data ever collected—using new methodology to quantify the nation's child care gap and expose where access falls short for families.

Explore the Map

Fact Sheet: Economic Impact

Fact Sheet: Head Start

State Child Care Gap Fact Sheets

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Featured Policy Reports

Early Childhood Workforce Retention (2026)

Workforce Well-Being Convening (2026)

Omaha Metro Child Care Gap (2026)

Lessons Learned from Tri-Share (2025)

Economics & Child Care (2025)

Child Care Trusts and Endowments (2025)

TANF and Child Care Expenditure (2025)

Rethinking Standards and Regulations (2025)

Early Learning Facilities Policy Update (2025)

The Danger of Increasing Care Ratios (2025)

Farm Bill Position Statement (2025)

The Kentucky Subsidy (2024)

Kentucky Child Care Gap Assessment (2025)

Nebraska Child Care Gap Assessment (2025)

Opportunity Zones and Child Care (2025)

Early Educators and Tax Deductions (2025)

Nebraska Market Rate Survey (2025)

Nebraska Early Childhood Funding Map (2023)

Nebraska's Investments in Early Care (2023)

Nebraska Early Childhood Commission

News and Events

Mar 31, 2026

'Every year we're losing 4,000 jobs': Economic impact of child care availability in Omaha metro

KETV

Mar 30, 2026

A day in the life of a child-free Coloradan — and the child care that makes it possible

The Denver Post

Mar 29, 2026

The added stress of parenting with unpredictable jobs

EdNC

Apr 28 2026

2026 Early Childhood Research Summit All Day Lincoln, Neb.

Apr 29 2026

2025–26 Buffett Institute Graduate Scholars Showcase 4:30 PM - 6:00 PM Omaha, Neb.

May 03 2026

Child Care Aware of America Symposium 2026 May 03 - May 06 Arlington, VA

View all News and Events