Appendix B 2024 NSECE Household Questionnaire Items - Overview and Comparison

Appendix B. 2024 NSECE Household Questionnaire Items - Overview and Comparison

2019 Category	2019 Construct	2024 Construct	First Item of 2024 Construct	Key changes from 2019 to 2024
Section A: Child Demographics	Number of children under age 6 living in household	Number of children under age 6 living in household	S1_Check
	Number of children ages 6 to 13 living in household	Number of children ages 6 to 13 living in household	S1_SA
	Roster of each child under age 13 in household	Roster of each child under age 13 in household	A1
	Sex of each child in household	Sex of each child in household	A1b
	Dates of birth for each child in household	Dates of birth for each child in household	A1c
	Country of birth for each child in household	Country of birth for each child in household	A1c1
	Ethnicity of each child in household	Ethnicity of each child in household	A2d
	Race of each child in household	Race of each child in household	A2e
	Physical, emotional, developmental, or behavioral condition for each child that affects care provided	Physical, emotional, developmental, or behavioral condition for each child that affects care provided	A2h
	Respondent’s relationship to each child	Respondent’s relationship to each child	A2f
	Presence of each child’s parent in the household	Presence of each child’s parent(s) in the household	A2g

2019 Category	2019 Construct	2024 Construct	First item of 2024 construct	Key changes from 2019 to 2024
Section A: Child Demographics	N/A	Whether child has a parent who doesn't live in this household	HH14_1	Added new items to more comprehensively capture a child's parents that live both inside and outside the household (as this becomes more prevalent over time). For children with non-resident parents, added items to collect new details about time spent between households, and time spent in parental and non-parental care when with non-resident parent.
	N/A	Does child live at multiple addresses	HH15_1
	N/A	What nights did child spend with non-residential parent last week	HH15_3
	Identification of children with non-resident parent(s)	Identification of children with non-resident parent(s)	A2G1
	Location of non-resident parent(s)	Location of non-resident parent(s)	A2G2
	Educational attainment of non-resident parent(s)	Educational attainment of non-resident parent(s)	A2G8
	Number of times non-resident parent(s) visited child in last 12 months	Number of times non-resident parent(s) visited child in last 12 months	A2G9
	Whether non-resident parent(s) has contributed $500 or more to child in last 12 months	Whether non-resident parent(s) has contributed $500 or more to child in last 12 months	A2G9a
	N/A	Whether child's non-resident parent lives with a spouse or partner	A2G8A	Added item on whether a child’s non-resident parent has a spouse or partner (who may serve as a caregiver to the child).
Section B: Respondent and Household Adults Demographics Section B: Respondent and Household Adults Demographics Section B: Respondent and Household Adults Demographics	Number of individuals over 13 years old living in household	Number of individuals over 13 years old living in household	B1a1
	Roster of household members over 13	Roster of household members over 13	B1A
	Age of each household member over 13	Age of each household member over 13	B1B
	Sex of each household member over 13	Gender identity of each household member over 13	B1C	Updated item on gender identity to align with guidance set out in: OMB (Jan 2023) Recommendations on the Best Practices for the Collection of Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Data on Federal Statistical Surveys (whitehouse.gov)
	Respondent’s relationship to each household member over 13	Respondent’s relationship to each household member over 13	B1d
	Whether each household member has any children living in household for	Whether each household member has any children living in household	B1e
	Identification of each household member’s children living in the household	Identification of each household member’s children living in the household	B1e_1
	Household member cares for children in household	Household member cares for children in household	B1f
	Educational attainment of each household member over 13	Educational attainment of household members over 13	B1j
	Ethnicity of respondent	Ethnicity of respondent*	B1m	Updated item to align with HHS Implementation Guidance on Data Collection Standards for Race, Ethnicity, Sex, Primary Language, and Disability Status (2011) by allowing respondents to describe their Hispanic/Latino/Spanish origin more precisely with separate categories for Mexican, Puerto Rican, Cuban and other Hispanic/Latino/Spanish origin, and the ability to select one or more option.
	Race of respondent	Race of respondent	B1n
	N/A	Sexual orientation of respondent	B1_SO	Added item on sexual orientation of respondent aligned with guidance set out in: OMB (Jan 2023) Recommendations on the Best Practices for the Collection of Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Data on Federal Statistical Surveys (whitehouse.gov)
	Country of birth for each household member over 13	Country of birth for household members over 13	B1o
	Year each household member first came to U.S.	Year household members over 13 first came to U.S.	B1o_1
	Identification of any guardian for children in the household with no reported parents	Identification of any guardian for children in the household with no reported parents	B1_CUST
	Formality of guardian arrangement	Formality of guardian arrangement	B1_CUST_a
	Description of relationship between parents in the household with more than two parents present	Description of relationship between parents in the household with more than two parents present	B1_STRUCT
	Language usually spoken in household	Language usually spoken in household	B2
	Any relatives living nearby	Any relatives living nearby	B3
	Any nearby relative able to regularly care for children at no cost	Any nearby relative able to regularly care for children at no cost	B3b
	Any nearby relative able to regularly care for children if paid	Any nearby relative able to regularly care for children if paid	B3c
Section C: Child Care: Types and Hours Section C: Child Care: Types and Hours Section C: Child Care: Types and Hours Section C: Child Care: Types and Hours Section C: Child Care: Types and Hours	Roster of individuals and organizations that cared for each child last week	Roster of individuals and organizations that cared for each child last week	C1
	Detailed schedule of non-parental care for each child last week	Detailed schedule of non-parental care for each child last week	C2
	Identification of non-parental care providers who regularly care for child but did not care for child last week	Identification of non-parental care providers who regularly care for child but did not care for child last week	C3
	Location of non-parental care for each regular, but not last week provider	Location of non-parental care for each regular, but not last week provider	C4a
	Number of hours per week each regular, but not last week provider, usually cares for a child	Number of hours per week each regular, but not last week provider, usually cares for a child	C4b
	N/A	Respondent's knowledge of child's childcare arrangements when at other household (of non-resident parent)	HH15_4	Added item to capture knowledge of child’s schedule when they are with the non-resident parent
	Whether provider is individual or organization	Whether provider is individual or organization	C5A
	Any respondent prior personal relationship to provider	Any respondent prior personal relationship to provider	C5C
	Respondent’s type of relationship to provider	Respondent’s type of relationship to provider	C5CA
	Whether provider cares for 4 or more children	Whether provider cares for 4 or more children	C5CB2
	Whether provider receives any payment for caring for children	Whether provider receives any payment for caring for children	C5E
	Whether respondent provides anything other than money to provider and frequency	Whether respondent provides anything other than money to provider*	C5E1	Kept item about whether family uses non-monetary approaches to pay provider; removed follow-up item about frequency of non-monetary payment.
	Provider lives or provides care in household	Provider lives or provides care in household	C5D
	Linkage of specific providers mentioned to nearby providers	Linkage of specific providers mentioned to nearby providers	C6
	Location of provider	Location of provider	C8
	Method of transportation to provider	Method of transportation to provider	C1B
	Person responsible for taking child to provider	Person responsible for taking child to provider	C1C
	Any language difficulty speaking with provider	Any language difficulty speaking with provider	C11
	Provider offers single type of activity	Provider offers single type of activity	C8_3
	N/A	Nature of the single type of activity provider offers	C8_3a	New item added to provide additional clarifying information about respondent reports of single activity care (this is an important detail required to classify different types of center-based care).
	Provider offers care on a drop-in basis	Provider offers care on a drop-in basis	C8_4
	Provider regularly cares for child (at least 5 hours each week)	Provider regularly cares for child (at least 5 hours each week)	C9
	Age of child when provider began caring for them	Age of child when provider began caring for them	C5F
	N/A	Emlen Scale - 3-item scale of parent reported child care quality	HH10_Q4a	Added widely used 3-item scale of parent reported child care quality developed by Art Emlen. Asked for all non-parental care arrangements for all children under age 72 months.
	N/A	One thing respondent would change about provider to better meet child's needs	HH10_Q5	Added a new parent-reported child care quality-related item asking about features of current child care provider that respondent would change to better meet child’s needs. Asked for all non-parental care arrangements for all children under age 72 months.
	Child enrolled in kindergarten	Child enrolled in kindergarten	C8C
	Child enrolled in Head Start or Public PreK	Child enrolled in Head Start or Public PreK	C8_2
	Provider is a school	Provider is a school	C8A
	Hours of the regular school day	Hours of the regular school day	C8_1
	N/A	In last 12 months, has child been told to take a break or leave care	HH21_1	Added two items on children’s experiences with discipline in the form of a required break (suspension) or refusal/end of care (expulsion) and reasons given for the disciplinary action. Item to record age of child at time of disciplinary action also added.
	N/A	Primary reason given for why child needed to take a break or leave care	HH21_2
	N/A	Age of child when they were told to take break or leave care	HH21_3
	Perception of specific types of care: nurturing environment	Dropped	N/A	Removed in-depth items about perception of how four different types of child care rate along six different features of child care.
	Perception of specific types of care: child prepared for school	Dropped	N/A
	Perception of specific types of care: child taught to get along with others	Dropped	N/A
	Perception of specific types of care: safe environment	Dropped	N/A
	Perception of specific types of care: affordable care	Dropped	N/A
	Perception of specific types of care: flexibility for parent	Dropped	N/A
	N/A	Preferred type of child care if all types were free and in a convenient location	HH10_Q8	New item added to ask about ideal/preferred type of child care for a focal child (including all types of parental and non-parental care).
	N/A	Difficulty finding the type of child care they wanted	HH10_Q9	New item added to ask about the level of difficulty experienced in finding the type of child care the parent wanted/wants for their child.
	N/A	One thing respondent would change about current child care situation overall (other than cost) to better meet family’s needs.	HH10_Q11b	New item added about what family would change in its child care situation to better meet family needs.
	N/A	Respondent has good local options and choices for child care	HH10_Q13a	New item added from Emlen's measures about parent perceptions of the quality of local child care options.
Section D: Respondent and spouse employment schedules Section D: Respondent and spouse employment schedules Section D: Respondent and spouse employment schedules Section D: Respondent and spouse employment schedules Section D: Respondent and spouse employment schedules	Respondent/spouse/relevant Household Member (HHM) worked for pay last week	Respondent/spouse/relevant HHM worked for pay last week	D1A
	Respondent/spouse/relevant HHM attended high school or college last week	Respondent/spouse/relevant HHM attended high school or college last week	D1B
	Respondent/spouse/relevant HHM attended courses or training programs last week	Respondent/spouse/relevant HHM attended courses or training programs last week	D1C
	Detailed schedule of work/school/training for each respondent/spouse/relevant HHM last week	Detailed schedule of work/school/training for each respondent/spouse/relevant HHM last week	D1D
	Reconciliation of adult and child calendar to identify gaps in child care	Reconciliation of adult and child calendar to identify gaps in child care	CHK3
	N/A	Whether respondent/spouse/partner works only at home/only outside of home/or both	WFH_1	New items added to collect additional detail about work-from-home arrangements and schedules, and about “hybrid” work arrangements where parents work both inside the home and at workplaces outside the home. Identified as a critical priority given the increased prevalence of remote work and hybrid work arrangements. Corresponding item added to learn more about the types of child care parents use for their children when working from home.
	N/A	Whether respondent/spouse/partner worked any days only at home last week	WFH_2
	N/A	Days the respondent/spouse/partner only worked at home last week	WFH_3
	N/A	Total number of hours respondent/spouse/partner worked from home last week	WFH_4
	N/A	Type of child care used while respondent/spouse/partner worked from home	WFH_5
	Location where relevant HHM works most hours each week	Location where relevant HHM works most hours each week	D2_1
	N/A	Location where relevant HHM works most hours each week when not working from home	D2_1A
	How relevant HHM gets to work	Dropped	N/A	Item dropped as it duplicates information from other items about transportation and commuting.
	How long it takes relevant HHM to get to work	How long it takes relevant HHM to get to work	D2_COMMUTE
	How far in advance does relevant HHM know their work schedule	How far in advance does relevant HHM know their work schedule	D2_2
	Did relevant HHM work a usual schedule last week	Did relevant HHM work a usual schedule last week	D2_3
	Occupation and industry of relevant household member	Occupation and industry of relevant household member	D2
	Current wage of relevant household member	Current wage of relevant household member	D3D
	Relevant household member ever worked for pay	Relevant household member ever worked for pay	D4
	Last job held by relevant household member	Last job held by relevant household member	D5A
	When last job was held by relevant household member	When last job was held by relevant household member	D5B
	Hours worked each week at last job by relevant household member	Hours worked each week at last job by relevant household member	D5C
	Wage received at last job for relevant household member	Wage received at last job for relevant household member	D5D
	Number of days last month a parent worked from home for a child care related reason	Number of days last 3 months a parent missed work for a child care related reason*	D9A_REVISED	Item revised to focus on missed work instead of work from home and timeframe changed from one month to three months to be consistent with other items in the sequence.
	Number of work days missed in the last 3 months	Dropped	N/A	Items streamlined to just maintain key items related to experiences of missing work due to child care related reasons.
	Number of work days missed because child care provider was unavailable in the last 3 months	Number of work days missed because child care provider was unavailable in the last 3 months*	D10A_REVISED
	Number of work days missed because child was sick in the last 3 months	Dropped	N/A
	Any wages lost by respondent/spouse/HHM for missed work	Any wages lost by respondent/spouse/HHM for missed work	D10C
	Any wages lost by respondent/spouse/HHM for being late to work/leaving early	Dropped	N/A
	Number of days special child care arrangements made in the last 3 months because of unavailable provider	Dropped	N/A
	Number of days special child care arrangements made in the last 3 months because of any other reason	Number of days special child care arrangements made in the last 3 months because of any other reason	D13
	N/A	Type of special child care arrangement made	D13a	New item about how parents manage when there is an expected change to their child’s usual care routine or arrangement.
	Respondent/spouse participates in flexible spending account at work	Respondent/spouse participates in flexible spending account at work	D15
Section J: Child Care Payment and Subsidy to Each Provider Section J: Child Care Payment and Subsidy to Each Provider Section J: Child Care Payment and Subsidy to Each Provider	Any payment from parent for each child care arrangement	Any payment from parent for each child care arrangement	J1_E1
	N/A	Whether respondent uses and pays provider varying numbers of hours per week for care	J1a_E1	New item added, parallel to new items asked in provider surveys (NSECE Center-based Survey and Home-based Survey), about use of flexible care and flexible scheduling and payment practices.
	Amount parent pays for each child care arrangement	Amount parent pays for each child care arrangement	J2_E7
	Child care provider paid for by someone/someplace else for each child care arrangement	Child care provider paid for by someone/someplace else for each child care arrangement	J3_E2
	Specific organizations/individuals who pay provider for each child care arrangement	Specific organizations/individuals who pay provider for each child care arrangement*	J4_E3	Clarified response option to capture a wider range of agency types that administer public child care and early education programs (including education departments) and added specific mention of child care assistance agency.
	Child care arrangement is free	Child care arrangement is free	J5_E5
	Any payments or reimbursements paid to household for care at provider	Any payments or reimbursements paid to household for care at provider	J9_E9
	Amount of payments/reimbursements paid directly to household for care at provider	Amount of payments/reimbursements paid directly to household for care at provider	J9A_E9A
	Identification of who makes payments/reimbursements to household	Identification of who makes payments/reimbursements to household*	J9_1	Parallel change as the one made above to item J4_E3 (the response categories are meant to be aligned between these type items, motiving the revision).
	Child care arrangement relies on sliding fee scale	Child care arrangement relies on sliding fee scale	J6_E6	The subsidy related items in this section will be fielded to more families in 2024 who may be eligible for child care subsidies. In 2019, we asked families with incomes at or below 200% of federal poverty. In 2024, we will ask to families at or below 250%.
	Amount paid to provider is a subsidy co-pay	Amount paid to provider is a subsidy co-pay	J7_E4
	N/A	Amount paid to provider includes diaper, snacks, or other supplies fees	J7_E4_a	Items added as a parallel revision to the NSECE Center-based Survey to gather more detailed information about how families supported by child care subsidies make payments for their child’s care with providers, including the types of fees and payments that are paid/collected.
	N/A	Amount paid to provider includes any fees in addition to co-pays	J7_E4_c
	Proof of employment, in school, or in training required to enroll child in provider	Proof of employment, in school, or in training required to enroll child in provider	J8A_E2A
	Any assistance from a child subsidy program to pay provider for care.	Any assistance from a child subsidy program to pay provider for care.	J8B_E2B
	Payment info for provider includes other children	Payment info for provider includes other children	J11
	Identification of other children included in provider payment information	Identification of other children included in provider payment information	J11_OTHCHLDRN
Section F: Non-parental Child Care Search Section F: Non-parental Child Care Search Section F: Non-parental Child Care Search	Date when respondent last searched for child care for selected child	Date when respondent last searched for child care for selected child	F2
	Last search included child care search for another child at same time	Last search included child care search for another child at same time	F2A
	Main reason respondent initiated search for child care	Main reason respondent initiated search for child care	F3
	Type of child care mostly used at time of last child care search	Type of child care mostly used at time of last child care search	F4
	Importance of different aspects of non-parental care for selected child: Nurturing environment; educational preparedness; social interactions; safety; affordability; flexibility for parents	Dropped	N/A	Removed lengthy set of questions asked in prior NSECE surveys on parent child care preferences. New items added in Section C related to parent preferences, needs, wants and selection.
	N/A	Difficulties finding care: availability	HH10_Q10_1	New items related to families’ challenges searching for, finding and selecting child care.
	N/A	Difficulties finding care: special needs	HH10_Q10_2
	N/A	Difficulties finding care: schedule	HH10_Q10_3
	N/A	Difficulties finding care: family culture and/or home language	HH10_Q10_4
	N/A	Difficulties finding care: well qualified	HH10_Q10_5
	One or more than one provider considered during last child care search	One or more than one provider considered during last child care search	F5
	Type of non-parental care provider(s) considered	Type of non-parental care provider(s) considered	F6A
	How respondent learned of considered provider	How respondent learned of considered provider(s)	F6B
	N/A	Types of provider(s) considered	F6C
	Method(s) used by respondent to search for providers	Method(s) used by respondent to search for providers	F7
	Type(s) of information respondent collected about providers during search	Type(s) of information respondent collected about providers during search	F8B
	Rate charged for care from considered provider(s)	Dropped	N/A	Dropped lengthy series of 6 items (F9) that are asked two times to each respondent who had an active search in last 24 months and considered two or more providers.
	Travel time to considered provider(s)	Dropped	N/A
	How well did considered providers’ schedule cover needed hours of care	Dropped	N/A
	Respondent’s overall quality rating for considered provider(s)	Dropped	N/A
	Any child care centers or organizations for school age children considered	Any child care centers or organizations for school age children considered	F10
	Respondent considered someone they had a prior relationship with to care for child	Respondent considered someone they had a prior relationship with to care for child	F11
	Respondent considered home-based care from someone with no prior relationship to respondent	Respondent considered home-based care from someone with no prior relationship to respondent	F12
	Result of child care search	Result of child care search	F13
	Provider chosen after search (if two listed)	Dropped	N/A	Item dropped – no longer relevant with the removal of F9 described above.
	Main reason for choosing child care provider	Main reason for choosing child care provider	F14
Section G: Household characteristics Section G: Household characteristics Section G: Household characteristics	Respondent/spouse/partner housing tenure	Respondent/spouse/partner housing tenure	G1
	Car ownership	Car ownership	G2
	Total household income last month	Total household income last month	G3
	Total household income last calendar year	Total household income last calendar year	G4A
	Number of different job earners included in last year’s total income	Number of different job earners included in last year’s total income	G4B
	Any sources of income beyond job earnings included in last year’s total income	Any sources of income beyond job earnings included in last year’s total income	G4c
	Amount of last year’s household income from sources other than job earnings	Amount of last year’s household income from sources other than job earnings	G4d
	Any public assistance or welfare payments in last calendar year	Any current public assistance receipt*	G4B1	Prior public assistance receipt question asked one combined question about receipt of any public assistance. New items added to ask specifically about receipt of cash assistance and disability insurance.
	Type of health insurance coverage for selected child	Type of health insurance coverage for selected child	G10
	Number of respondent’s other children under 13 with health insurance coverage	Number of respondent’s other children under 13 with health insurance coverage	G10A
	Level of food insecurity in household	Level of food insecurity in household	G11
	Types of food assistance currently received	Dropped	N/A	Replaced items about receipt of SNAP/Food Stamps and Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Nutrition Program with update items (see below), and removed item about Free and Reduced Price lunch.
	N/A	Whether anyone in household receives benefits from Food Stamp Program/SNAP	G12_1a	New, revised items added about current receipt of SNAP/Food Stamps Food Assistance, and receipt of WIC Nutrition Program.
	N/A	Whether anyone in household receives benefits from Women Infants and Children (WIC) Nutrition Program	G12_1b
	Any household members receive child care subsidies in last 12 months	Any household members receive child care subsidies in last 12 months	G12B
	Number of months in the past year a household member received child care subsidies	Number of months in the past year a household member received child care subsidies	G12C
	Main reason child care subsidies ended	Main reason child care subsidies ended	G12D
	N/A	Any household member received child care subsidies in the last 5 years	G12B_1	Items added to learn more about families’ experiences and exposure to the child care subsidy system, asking whether household has ever received, ever applied for, and family’s experiences applying for and receiving child care subsidies.
	N/A	Whether respondent applied for child care subsidies in the last 5 years	G12B_2
	N/A	Family's experiences applying for and receiving child care subsidies	G12B_3a
	N/A	Ability to pay $400 emergency expense with cash or cash equivalents	HH17	New item added about financial stability/security.
	Ability to borrow $500 from someone/someplace for 3 months	Dropped		Removed item. New item added about financial stability (HH17 above).
	Any internet access in the home	Any internet access in the home	G14
	Device used for internet access	Device used for internet access	G14a_a
Section H: Parental Consent to Access Administrative Records	Confirmation respondent is able to authorize release of records for eligible children	Confirmation respondent is able to authorize release of records for eligible children	H1
	If respondent is not able to provide authorization: Name and contact information of person able to authorize release of records for eligible children	If respondent is not able to provide authorization: Name and contact information of person able to authorize release of records for eligible children	H2
	Respondent is asked to grant permission to access administrative records for eligible children	Respondent is asked to grant permission to access administrative records for eligible children*	H5
	Roster and date of birth for every child under 13 in the household for whom respondent gives permission	Roster and date of birth for every child under 13 in the household for whom respondent gives permission	H6
	Full name of authorizing adult	Full name of authorizing adult	H6_ADULT
	Confirmation of household’s address	Confirmation of household’s address	H7_ADDR

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Appendix B. 2024 NSECE Household Questionnaire Items – Overview and Comparison