Is This the Right Place for My Child? 38 Research-Based Indicators of High-Quality Child Care (A Checklist for Parents)
Choosing Child Care Choosing care for your child while you work or attend school is one of the most important decisions you will make as a parent. Unfortunately in most areas there isn’t a “consumer report” on the best care available. The National Association of Child Care Resource & Referral Agencies (NACCRRA) through the Child Care Aware Program helps parents find licensed care (www.childcareaware.org). Because licensing and regulations vary widely, parents need more to go on. This guide helps parents understand how to better judge quality. In addition, some states have quality rating systems to help parents with this decision. Parents can learn if their state has a quality rating system on the National Child Care Information Center website: www.nccic.org/pubs/qrs-defsystems.html. The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) provides a list of their accredited child care centers on their website (www.naeyc.org) as does the National Accreditation Commission (NAC) For Early Care and Education Programs (www.naccp. org) and the National Early Childhood Program
Is This the Right Place for My Child? 38 Research-Based Indicators of High-Quality Child-Care