How States Can Make It Easier for Parents and Families to Make Early Childhood Care and Education Decisions

July 22, 2025

Finding childcare and preschool is a challenging process for parents, who must navigate complex questions about availability, quality, and services. State governments collect valuable data about early childhood programs but often fail to make this information accessible to families in user-friendly formats. South Carolina's First Five SC portal demonstrates how states can effectively consolidate information about over 40 public services, allowing families to research and apply for multiple programs in one place.

Who is affected

Parents and families searching for childcare and preschool options
Young children who need early childhood education and related services
Early childhood program administrators and educators
State governments managing early childhood data and services

What action is being taken

South Carolina is operating the First Five SC portal as a "one-stop shop" for families to learn about and apply for over 40 public services
The Data Quality Campaign is conducting national polling of early childhood administrators about data usage
Some states are collecting good information on early childhood programs, though most aren't making it available in ways families need

Why it matters

Finding appropriate childcare is currently a time-consuming, complex process for families
Better data access improves decision-making for 97% of early childhood administrators
99% of administrators report that using data improves teaching or care provided
95% of administrators believe data usage improves child outcomes
Accessible data can help families make informed decisions without relying on hours of research or word of mouth

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: The San Diego Voice & Viewpoint