The percentage of children ages 3–5 who attended center-based early childhood care and education programs rose from 53 percent in 1991 to 60 percent in 1999 and then decreased to 57 percent in 2005.

Center-based early childhood care and education programs include day care centers, Head Start programs, preschool, nursery school, prekindergarten, and other early childhood programs. The percentage of preprimary children ages 3–5 who attended center-based programs increased from 53 percent in 1991 to 60 percent in 1999, before decreasing to 57 percent in 2005 (see table 2-1).

Some groups of young children had higher rates of participation in center-based programs than others during this period. For example, in each of the years observed, a greater percentage of nonpoor children ages 3–5 participated in center-based programs than did poor children. The difference in rates of participation between children from poor and nonpoor families was 13 percentage points in 2005 (47 vs. 60 percent).

In addition, for all years observed, a greater percentage of Black and White children than Hispanic children participated in center-based programs. In 2005, some 66 percent of Black children and 59 percent of White children participated in such programs, compared with 43 percent of Hispanic children. White and Hispanic nonpoor children were more likely than their poor peers to participate in center-based programs in 2005, while no measurable difference was found between poor and nonpoor Black children.

Differences were also found by child’s age, mother’s education, and mother’s employment for all years observed. Enrollment rates in center-based programs were higher for older children (ages 4 and 5) than for children age 3. Sixty-nine percent of children ages 4 and 5 attended such programs, compared with 43 percent of children age 3. For all years observed, a greater percentage of children whose mothers had a bachelor’s or higher degree participated in center-based programs than did children whose mothers had some college, a high school diploma, or less than a high school diploma. For all years observed, a greater percentage of children with mothers who worked (either full time or part time) were enrolled in center-based programs than were children with mothers who were not in the labor force.