Buffett Early Childhood Institute/Gallup Survey on Early Childhood Care and Education in Nebraska

From the outset, the opinions and needs of Nebraska’s citizens and its early childhood workforce were central to our work. Because we wanted to know what Nebraskans know, think, and believe about early care and education, in 2015 we partnered with Gallup to find answers to these questions, administering the largest public survey on this subject ever conducted in the state. A random sample of 7,191 Nebraskans aged 18 and older participated; data were weighted to match Nebraska’s demographics by gender, age, education, and race and were collected by means of address-based sampling. The results, published in four reports in 2016 and 2017, underscore the relevance of our mission.

The first report, Nebraskans Speak About Early Care and Education, gave an overview of the “big picture” findings from the study.80 It showed that the vast majority (68%) of Nebraskans recognize the importance of high-quality early care and education and understand that it has long-term impact on student success. Only 11%, however, believe that quality care is available for every family in the state, and even fewer believe it is affordable (6%). Ten percent strongly believe that most of the state’s young children are prepared to be successful in school when they enter Kindergarten. Not surprisingly, 67% agree or strongly agree that the state should make early care and education a higher priority than it is today.

Nebraskans Speak About Early Care And Education

Report presented in Lincoln, March 29, 2016

The presentation was followed by a panel discussion about implications for Nebraska. Panelists included:

• Hank Bounds, president, University of Nebraska

• Matt Blomstedt, commissioner of education, Nebraska Department of Education

• Barry Kennedy, president, Nebraska Chamber of Commerce & Industry

• Samuel J. Meisels, founding executive director, Buffett Early Childhood Institute

• Iheoma Iruka, director of research and evaluation, Buffett Early Childhood Institute

Highlights from the second report, Nebraskans Speak About the Early Care and Education Workforce, 81 included:

• Nebraskans recognize and value the early care and education workforce. A strong majority (66%) of residents say an early care and education program or home-based center is best when families cannot care for their children during the day. Almost half (46%) have turned to schools or teachers and many (37%) have turned to child care providers for information about child care.

• Nebraskans believe that postsecondary education is needed for those who want to work in the care and education field. At least half of Nebraskans say that some higher education is needed and that the level of education varies with the age of the child.

• Nebraskans want greater support for the early care and education workforce. Nearly half (48%) of Nebraskans believe that teachers and caregivers are paid too little, and 55% of parents with children in programs feel this way. In 2015 the average salary for child care professionals was $19,620.

NEBRASKANS SPEAK ABOUT THE EARLY CARE AND EDUCATION WORKFORCE Report presented in Kearney, Oct. 24, 2016

The presentation was followed by a panel discussion about implications for Nebraska. Panelists included:

• Molly O’Holleran, member, Nebraska State Board of Education

• Carol Renner, associate superintendent, Kearney Public Schools

• Susan Sarver, director of workforce planning and development, Buffett Early Childhood Institute

• Mike Schnieders, CEO and president, CHI Health Good Samaritan

Highlights from the third report, Urban and Rural Nebraskans Speak About the Early Care and Education, 82 included:

• Though majorities of Nebraskans from urban and rural areas share a belief that Nebraska is one of the best states to be a young child, they worry about their children’s future. Only 30% of rural-area Nebraska residents and 39% of urban-area residents think that children’s lives will be better 10 years from now. Only 10% of Nebraskans (8% of urbanarea and 11% of rural-area residents) strongly agree that most young children in the state are prepared to be successful in school when they start Kindergarten.

• Urban-area residents are significantly more likely than rural-area residents (44% vs. 23%) to say that the cost of early care and education programs is the greatest challenge for families in obtaining high-quality care. Conversely, more rural-area residents than urban- area residents say the availability of programs is their biggest challenge. (According to Voices for Children in Nebraska, 11 counties statewide had no licensed child care facilities in 2021, and 91% of counties in Nebraska do not have enough available licensed child care slots to meet the current demand.)83

• There is consensus among residents across the state about the need for greater investment in early care and education. Two-thirds of all Nebraskans strongly agree or agree that the state should make early care and education a higher priority. Majorities of urban-area (61%) and rural-area (55%) Nebraskans say the state is investing too little in these programs.

Report presented in Scottsbluff, March 24, 2017

The presentation was followed by a panel discussion focusing on opportunities and challenges to serving young children in the Nebraska Panhandle. Featured speakers included:

• Senator John Stinner, Nebraska Legislature

• Kim Engel, director, Panhandle Public Health District

• Kathleen Gallagher, Cille and Ron Williams Community Chair for Early Childhood Education, University of Nebraska at Kearney and the Buffett Early Childhood Institute

• Jeff West, administrator, Educational Service Unit 13; chair, Scottsbluff/Gering United Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors

• Caroline Winchester, superintendent, Chadron Public Schools

Finally, the fourth analysis, Nebraska Parents Speak About Early Care and Education, included findings about parental attitudes.84 We learned that:

• Parents of young children and Nebraskans without children believe that the state should make a greater investment in early care and education. As expected, parents with young children feel this most strongly, with nearly two-thirds stating that Nebraska’s investment is too low. Moreover, six in 10 respondents without children say there is too little investment in early care and education.

• An overwhelming majority of parents with young children (78%) and Nebraskans without children (72%) agree or strongly agree that the state should make public programs available for 4-year-olds from families who choose to use them. Majorities of parents with young children (59%) and Nebraskans without children (55%) recognize the need for programs for 3-year-olds.

NEBRASKA PARENTS SPEAK ABOUT EARLY CARE AND EDUCATION Report

presented in Omaha, June 6, 2017

The Institute announced the findings of the fourth report at a national symposium on strategies to support and help parents. More than 200 researchers, practitioners, philanthropists, and advocates participated in the event, hosted by the Buffett Institute in collaboration with the American Educational Research Association (AERA) and the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine.

In summary, this extensive study revealed that the vast majority of Nebraskans value and support early care and education and believe more needs to be done to prepare young children for success in school and life. In overwhelming numbers, residents say that highquality early care and education is not available or affordable for all families in Nebraska. The findings from this series of reports provided a strong framework on which to base future actions and programs.