DATA & REPORTS: Frequently Asked Questions
Population
How many kids ages birth to 5.4 years live in Boston?
42,822
Data source: Boston Public Health Commission birth records (1997-2002)
Data analysis: Boston EQUIP
How many preschool-aged children in Boston have family income levels less than 50% of the State Median Income?
49% or 9,175 preschool-aged children
The Demand for Full-Time Subsidized Care and Education in Boston (2006). Boston EQUIP. Associated Early Care and Education.
How many children in Boston live in families with all parents working full-time?
30% of young children and 31% of preschool-age children.
The Demand for Full-Time Subsidized Care and Education in Boston (2006). Boston EQUIP. Associated Early Care and Education.
How many children in Boston live in families with all parents working full-time and have a family income level less than 50% SMI?
8% of young children and 9% of preschool-age children.
The Demand for Full-Time Subsidized Care and Education in Boston (2006). Boston EQUIP. Associated Early Care and Education.
Supply and Demand
How many early care and education programs are there in Boston?
There are at least 972 suppliers of early care and education in Boston. As of June 2005, there were 228 Community-Based and Head Starts centers, 676 active licensed Family Child Care providers, 37 Boston public schools providing preschool, and 31 other license-exempt preschools in Boston.
Data source: Department of Early Education and Care, Child Care Choices of Boston.
Data analysis: Boston EQUIP
What is the early care and education capacity of Boston?
There is an active, licensed, and license-exempt capacity of 18,876 in Boston for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers.
Data source: Department of Early Education and Care, Child Care Choices of Boston.
Data analysis: Boston EQUIP
What is Boston’s preschool capacity?
There is a licensed and license-exempt preschool capacity of 12,904 as of June 2005.
Data source: Department of Early Education and Care, Child Care Choices of Boston.
Data analysis: Boston EQUIP
How close are we to universal preschool in Boston?
That depends on the definition of universal. The current preschool capacity covers 64% of the preschool age population, using the birth records population estimate. Using the U.S. Census’ estimate of the number of preschool aged children, the current preschool capacity covers 80% of the children.
Data analysis: Boston EQUIP
Boston Quality Benchmarks
How many programs and providers in Boston are accredited?
15%, or 143, programs or providers were accredited or possessed an active CDA in June 2005. This represents 32% of the total early care and education capacity in Boston.
36% of Community-Based and Head Start centers were accredited as of June 2005. 9% of Family Child Care providers were accredited or possessed an active CDA. 3% of the Boston Public School preschool programs were accredited, and none of other license-exempt early care and education programs were accredited.
36% of Community-Based and Head Start centers were accredited as of June 2005. 9% of Family Child Care providers were accredited or possessed an active CDA. 3% of the Boston Public School preschool programs were accredited, and none of other license-exempt early care and education programs were accredited.
Data source: NAEYC, NAFCC, Council for Professional Recognition.
Data analysis: Boston EQUIP
Workforce
How many early care and education teachers currently have a Bachelor’s degree in education or a related field?
Data source: Community Profiles 2003-2004 surveys
Data analysis: Boston EQUIP
Publications