Using Existing Large-Scale Data to Study Early Care and Education Among Hispanics: Families’ Utilization of Early Care and Education

As part of a project analyzing existing large-scale data sets with information about the ECE experiences of Hispanic populations, this brief describes survey data elements relevant to studying the patterns and characteristics of Hispanic families’ ECE use. In addition to type, setting, and amount of ECE care, we highlight elements related to out-of-pocket costs and use of assistance. We also point to new directions for the study of child care utilization among Latinos. Researchers can use this review and associated data tables to select the study, samples, and variables most appropriate for their research questions.