The Data / Education
Early Childhood & K-12 Education
Childcare and K–12 Education evaluates the accessibility, affordability, and safety of early childhood and K-12 education systems. It includes measures related to childcare availability, costs, early education programs, school system outcomes, and indicators of student stability.
Together, these components assess whether a state’s childcare and education infrastructure provides families with reliable care options, manageable costs, and educational environments capable of supporting children from early childhood through high school.
150 of 500 points
Components
How this condition is scored
All-Day Kindergarten
Policy
All-Day Kindergarten
Whether a state requires or provides access to publicly funded full-day kindergarten programs. As a policy measure, it reflects the degree to which a state’s education system provides structured early education coverage for young children during standard working hours.
State Funded Pre-K – Programs
Policy
State Funded Pre-K – Programs
Whether a state operates publicly funded prekindergarten programs. State-funded pre-kindergarten programs expand access to early childhood education prior to kindergarten entry and can provide structured learning environments for young children while also supporting childcare coverage for families.
Childcare Center Density
Factor
Childcare Center Density
The number of licensed childcare centers within a state relative to population. Greater density may reflect broader access to formal childcare options for families with young children.
Childcare Costs - Income Adjusted
Factor
Childcare Costs - Income Adjusted
The relative cost of childcare within a state after adjusting for household income levels. Income-adjusted childcare costs are included as an indicator of childcare affordability, reflecting the extent to which childcare expenses represent a manageable or burdensome share of family resources.
Childcare Costs Subscore – Infant
Factor
Childcare Costs Subscore – Infant
The cost of center-based childcare for infants within a state.
Childcare Costs Subscore – Toddler
Factor
Childcare Costs Subscore – Toddler
The cost of center-based childcare for toddlers within a state.
Childcare Costs Subscore – 4-Year-Old
Factor
Childcare Costs Subscore – 4-Year-Old
The cost of center-based childcare for four-year-old children within a state.
Childcare Costs Subscore – Before/After School
Factor
Childcare Costs Subscore – Before/After School
The cost of after-school childcare programs for school-aged children within a state.
High School Graduation Subscore – Overall
Factor
High School Graduation Subscore – Overall
The overall rate at which students graduate from high school within a state. High school completion is included as an indicator of educational attainment and institutional stability within a state’s education system.
Source: School House Solutions and University of Michigan Poverty Solutions
High School Graduation Subscore – Economically Disadvantaged
Factor
High School Graduation Subscore – Economically Disadvantaged
The rate at which economically disadvantaged students graduate from high school within a state. Differences in these rates may reflect how effectively a state’s education system supports students facing financial or structural barriers to completion.
High School Student Chronic Absenteeism
Factor
High School Student Chronic Absenteeism
The share of high school students who are chronically absent during the academic year. Persistent absence from school may reflect broader challenges affecting students and families, including barriers to attendance, school climate, or disruptions in living conditions.
Households with Children Under Six
Outcome
Households with Children Under Six
The share of households within a state that include at least one child under the age of six, reflecting the prevalence of early-childhood family formation within a state.