This study followed a random sample of hundreds of children and 100 child care centers in order to examine links between family income, the quality and cost of child-care, and infant language and social development.
This is a four-year study following a random sample of 236 children and their families from 100 randomly selected centers that provide full-day, full-year care to infants in Massachusetts. The study is part of a larger research program addressing important issues of quality and cost in early care and education in Massachusetts.
The study employs a developmental-ecological framework to examine the links over time among poverty, other key family characteristics, quality and cost of center-based child care, family outcomes, and infant language and social development at 12, 24, and 36 months.
