September 2026 Report
Choices, Preferences, Challenges, and Needs
What do families need from early care and education? This report brings together a survey of 488 Baltimore families with children ages 0–5 and interviews and focus groups with 50 caregivers to explore their choices, priorities, and barriers to care.
82 pages · PDF · 7.1 MB
Three themes from the report’s executive summary.
Families prioritized children’s happiness, safety, warm teacher–child relationships, and supportive, inclusive environments when choosing care.
Cost, limited openings, program hours, location, and complex applications can prevent families from finding care that meets their needs.
Families rely on community networks, other parents, and schools for information. The report calls for clearer, multilingual guidance and individualized support.
The study examines how early care and education options align with Baltimore families’ needs and lived experiences. It includes recommendations for expanding access, improving affordability, strengthening inclusive services, and making the system easier to navigate.
The report was prepared by researchers at the University of Virginia and the Baltimore Education Research Consortium, in partnership with Strategic Thinking for Social Change. The Fund for Educational Excellence and the Family League of Baltimore provided project coordination, leadership, and guidance.
These findings reflect the families who participated and are not necessarily representative of all Baltimore families. The report explains the sample characteristics and interpretation considerations on printed page 13.
Read the executive summary (PDF, pages 3–6)