Liability Insurance and Early Childhood Education

who have responsibility over liability insurance decisions at their programs, focuses on:1 › the specific context and implications of increasing liability insurance costs and declining coverage options in early childhood education; › the impact on child care affordability, supply, and quality for families; and › emerging solutions to help child care and early learning programs navigate i [...] › Having liability insurance is important to the early childhood educators in this survey. [...] For more information about the survey, see methodology at the end of the document.2/8 Liability Insurance and Early Childhood Education There is substantial variability in state requirements related to liability insurance for licensed child care settings, which makes it challenging to get a full and accurate picture. [...] In this survey, 87 percent of respondents overall said they work in programs that maintain liability insurance, including 88 percent of programs eligible to serve families receiving a child care subsidy, 94 percent of those working in a child care center, and 77 percent of those working in family child care homes. Among the small percentage of respondents who reported that their programs do [...] Within this smaller and more targeted audience: › 80 percent of respondents noted that their total liability insurance cost increased over the last year. [...] › This includes 55% of programs in rural areas, and 57% of family child care programs. Denied Coverage › One-third of respondents (32%) reported that they had been denied coverage in the past year (since May 2023). [...] They also are clear on the stakes: if they cannot find, afford, or access liability insurance, 96 percent of survey respondents outlined consequences that would lead directly to fewer children and families being safely served and supported, including 65 percent who said they would have to close their program. [...] Families, children, and businesses cannot absorb the loss of additional child care program closures. Already, 76% of respondents to this survey said they were aware of programs that had closed in their community; a quarter were aware of four or more programs that have closed.6/8 Liability Insurance and Early Childhood Education With these types of consequences at stake, solutions must be foun [...] NAEYC asked those closest to the problem—in this case, early childhood educators who are responsible for liability insurance in their programs—to recommend the answers that would work for them. [...] Thus, responses are from a subset of the ECE workforce more connected to and familiar with issues pertaining to liability insurance.