Research Priority Areas for Understanding and Improving Access to Early Care and Education (ECE) for Children in Low-Income Hispanic Families

This brief presents the research implications from a recent synthesis of the literature on the access low-income Hispanic families have to quality early care and education (ECE) opportunities for their children. The authors discuss the mismatch that exists in terms of available ECE opportunities with Hispanic families work schedules and the lack of available ECE for specific populations of children such as infants and toddlers. It also discusses the mismatch between the ECE workforce and Hispanic families due to a lack of ECE staff who reflect children's racial, ethnic, and linguistic backgrounds and who are fluent speakers of families' native languages. The authors identify the need for more information on low-income Hispanic families' access to ECE to inform policies and create more equitable access.