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The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study is to understand the lived experiences of military families as they access early childhood education and care opportunities. At this stage in the research, the experience of access to early childhood education and care will be generally defined as an attempt to register or enroll children ages three years old to five years old in childcare or preschool programs. The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the nation’s critical dependence on sustainable child care for economic and family health (Administration of Children & Families (ACF), 2023). The Department of Defense (DoD) views affordable and available childcare as an essential aspect of family readiness to increase job performance, retention, and financial well-being (Government Accountability Office (GAO), 2023.) During the in-depth study, GAO interviewed family members who expressed concerns regarding waitlists and costs associated with childcare (2023). In September 2021, 77,000 military children were enrolled in DoD’s childcare program, with an additional 25,800 receiving subsidies for civilian care in March 2022 (GAO, 2023). More than $1 billion in appropriated funds are annually invested in DoD childcare programs (GAO, 2023) and Congress delegated $24 billion to stabilize the childcare market between 2019 to 2022 (ACF, 2023). A complete understanding of the lived experience of military families accessing ECEC is required to ensure the most effective use of this significant investment.
Research Questions
The purpose of the following research questions is to obtain a better understanding of how military families experience accessing ECEC programs. The central research questions focused on the experience of families seeking high-quality early childhood education and care programs that are tied to positive child outcomes (ACF, 2023; GAO, 2023). Sub-questions one and two will expand the little research that has focused on military families’ options for ECEC and the factors that influence how military families select programs from their available options (GAO, 2023). Sub-questions three and four investigate the unique circumstances impacting how military service and government regulations influence military children’s ECEC experiences as military families have unique needs that differ from their civilian counterparts (Child Welfare Information Gateway, (CWIG), 2023; GAO, 2023). This study will include one central research question and four sub-research questions.
Central Research Question
What is the lived experience of military families who seek access to high-quality equitable early childhood education opportunities?
Sub-Question One
How do military families describe their options for early childhood education and care?
Sub-Question Two
How do military families describe the factors that influence their choices in selecting ECEC programs?
Sub-Question Three
How do military families describe the impact of their military service on their children’s early childhood education and care experiences?
Sub-Question Four
How do military families perceive the impact of government policies (exosystem) on their children’s early childhood education and care options (microsystem)?
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