North Dakota
Policy Strategies & Innovations Link copied!
| Innovation Name | Innovation Type | Innovation Subtype | Features at a Glance | Strategy Summary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ND Department of Health and Human Services’ Early Childhood Section | Infrastructure Systems | Data Systems | Merged programs into the Department of Health and Human Services’ Early Childhood Section |
In 2021, North Dakota enacted HB 1416, which merges offices and programs encompassing child care, preschool and pre-K, home visiting, early intervention and professional development into the Department of Health and Human Services’ Early Childhood Section. According to Kagan and Gomez (2015) consolidating early childhood programs under one agency can decrease duplication of services. Learn More: North Dakota Early Childhood ServicesSource: North Dakota Legislative Assembly (2021). HB 1416. Summaries of Fiscal Year 2023 Enacted Budgets Bipartisan Policy Center (2023). Integrated Efficient Early Care and Education Systems Kagan, L. and Gomez, R. (Eds.). (2015) Early Childhood Governance: Choices and Consequences. Teachers College Press. |
Demographics Link copied!
State population
779,261 Source U.S. Census, 2022
Rural %
39.0% Source U.S. Census, 2020
Urban %
61.0% Source U.S. Census, 2020
Number of children age 0-4
51,390 Source KIDS COUNT, 2021
Poverty levels – children 0-8 below 200% poverty
29% Source KIDS COUNT, 2021
Median family income among households with children
$91,800.00 Source KIDS COUNT, 2021
Unemployment rate
2.3% Source U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, December 2022
Unemployment rate of parents
3% Source KIDS COUNT, 2021
Children under age 6 with all available parents in the labor force
N/A, for most states between 65%-75% Source KIDS COUNT, 2021
Children living in households with a high housing cost burden
20% Source KIDS COUNT, 2021
Political Landscape Link copied!
| Year | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Governor | R | R | R | R | R |
| House | R | R | R | R | R |
| Senate | R | R | R | R | R |
Early Childhood Education Programs Link copied!
Public pre-K program name
Best-In-Class Preschool Program Source: NIEER 2023
Universal or targeted pre-K policy
Targeted Pre-K Policy (4-Year-Olds) Source: NIEER 2023
Percent of 3-Year-Old Children Enrolled in Public Early Childhood Education Programs Source: NIEER 2023
Programs
- 3-year-old children enrolled in state-funded public pre-K (0%)
- 3-year-old children enrolled in Head Start (9%)
- Other/none (90%)
Percent of 4-Year-Old Children Enrolled in Public Early Childhood Education Programs Source: NIEER 2023
Programs
- 4-year-old children enrolled in state-funded public pre-K (3%)
- 4-year-old children enrolled in Head Start (11%)
- Other/none (86%)
Workforce Link copied!
2017–2019 Median Hourly Wages Source CSCCE 2018, 2020
Role
- Child care workers
- Preschool teachers
- Preschool or child care center directors
Funding acronyms: CCDBG: Child Care and Development Block Grant; CARES Act: Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act; CRRSE Act: Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations; ARPA: American Rescue Plan Act; CCDF: Child Care and Development Fund; MIECHV: Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting Program; IDEA: Individuals with Disabilities Education Act; TANF: Temporary Assistance for Needy Families
The COVID Funding Cliff
All federal COVID relief allocations, including funding authorized by the CARES, CRRSE, and ARPA bills, must be fully spent by September 2024. An analysis from the Century Foundation shows this loss of funds could cause more than 3 million children to lose access to child care nationwide – including more than 10,000 children in North Dakota.