The Role of Licensing in Early Care and Education: Licensing Administrators

The Role of Licensing in Early Care and Education (TRLECE): Survey of State and Territory Child Care and Early Education Licensing Administrators

Child Trends, funded by the Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation (OPRE), Administration for Children and Families (ACF) in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) will collect descriptive information for The Role of Licensing in Early Care and Education (TRLECE): Licensing Administrators project. The goal of this information collection is to deepen the field's understanding of child care and early education licensing systems, which play a critical role in supporting positive outcomes for providers, families, and children. The investigators will conduct one round of survey data collection with all state and territory child care and early education licensing administrators.

This study aims to advance understanding of the landscape of child care and early education licensing systems. State/territory child care and early education licensing agencies establish and monitor regulations that child care programs serving young children must meet to operate legally. These regulations and monitoring practices play a large role in the operations of child care programs but have received relatively little research attention. The field has limited information about features of state/territory licensing units and the characteristics and perceptions of licensing administrators. TRLECE: Licensing Administrators findings can inform licensing policies and practices in the child care and early education field, guidance and technical assistance to state leaders, and future research.

For this descriptive study, the investigators will conduct a survey of child care licensing administrators. This survey is designed to collect information about licensing administrator demographics, licensing agency structure and staff supports, ideas about the factors that influence decision-making, perceptions of strengths and challenges of the licensing system, and ideas to improve the licensing system. The investigators will invite the licensing administrator from each state and territory (n = 56) to participate.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Child care licensing administrators in all U.S. states, territories, and the District of Columbia (DC)

Exclusion Criteria:

• Individuals who are not child care licensing administrators in all U.S. states, territories, and the District of Columbia (DC)