2007 Indiana Child Care Workforce Study

The early years of a child’s life shape who he will become, and the quality of care and education he receives is instrumental in helping him achieve success in school and life. The quality of care and education children receive is enhanced when teachers have increased education and specialized training.

For the second time, the Indiana Association for the Education of Young Children (Indiana AEYC), in conjunction with the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration, Division of Family Services, Bureau of Child Care, published Working in Child Care in Indiana.  This 2007 Special Report on Teachers and Directors Working in Licensed Child Care Centers & Unlicensed Registered Child Care Ministries builds on work begun in 2005 and provides an analysis of data provided by surveyed teachers and directors from across the state.

The study finds that teacher salaries remain markedly low and are, in fact, on par with that of parking lot attendants and food preparation workers. Fifty-six percent of child care centers/ministries surveyed do not provide health insurance assistance. The majority of teachers and directors are parents, but only 18% of employing centers provide free child care. 29% provide paid retirement benefits.        Yet, Indiana’s early childhood teachers and directors are committed to providing children with stable, quality care: the state’s turnover rate has dropped from 26% to 24%. Directors have a median of 13 years in the early childhood field, and lead teachers have a median of seven years in the early childhood field. Over 60% of teachers and directors surveyed say they would like to further their education.

Indiana Child Care Workforce Study (PDF 660KB) Indiana Child Care Workforce Study County Data Sheets 2007 Indiana Child Care Workforce Study: Special Report on Teachers and Directors Working in Licensed Child Care Centers & Unlicensed Registered Child Care Ministries 2005 Indiana Child Care Workforce Study Information: 2005