麻豆app

In New Hampshire, the average price of full-time, center-based childcare for an infant and a four-year-old is nearly $32,000 a year, equivalent to 28% of median family income for Granite State households with children under five.

These data points, likely unsurprising to families and caregivers of young children, are from a new initiative led by UNH鈥檚 Carsey School of Public Policy. The aims to inform policy and action toward a more robust early childhood education system in New Hampshire.

With a multi-year grant from the Couch Family Foundation, the Carsey School is conducting new research and coordinating a consortium of researchers and practitioners across the Granite State, including UNH鈥檚 . Research shows that the scarcity of affordable childcare for young children is a significant but solvable challenge in New Hampshire and across the country.

鈥淗igh-quality early childhood education builds the foundation for life-long success,鈥� says , associate professor of human development and family studies and the lead investigator for the Early Childhood Initiative. 鈥淭he early care and education system is like a three-legged stool supported by access, cost and quality. All three legs must be strong for it to work to truly support children and families.鈥�

鈥淭his is a听pivotal听project that will purposefully bring together the state鈥檚 early childhood experts and stakeholders and propel us toward a research agenda that can inform both policy and action for a more robust early childhood education system in the state,鈥� says , research assistant professor.