This paper reports on the sharp disparities in the supply of preschools across the 100 counties and 36 states included in this study. Three sets of factors help explain these inequities in child-care supply: (1) local patterns of wealth, poverty, and maternal employment; (2) the structure of families; and (3) government subsidy levels. Among the…

Influences of alternative policies that state governments and the federal government use to improve child-care centers and preschools are assessed based on a survey of 1,805 centers in 36 states. Center quality is generally higher in centers receiving greater subsidies. Implications of findings for policy in managed choice school settings are…

Rising maternal employment, welfare reform, and increased preschool enrollment contribute to accelerating family demand for child care in California, and federal and state governments have responded by doubling support for child care and preschool programs between 1996 and 1999. However, there is little information available on how child care…