Compare Quality

Choosing the best child care and early education program for your family is one of the most important decisions you will make as a parent. Leading educators and development experts created the Quality Care Checklist (pdf) based on the ideas and practices of the best programs. Print the checklist and take it with you when you visit centers in your area to help you make the best decision possible regarding care for your child (ren).

The Quality Care Checklist (pdf) will allow you to determine how the following elements contribute to the quality of your child's preschool experience:

• Program
• Parent Communication and Involvement
• Teachers
• Health and Safety
• Facility

Use the checklist to ask questions and to compare the program you visit. Spend at least one hour observing at the facility and paying careful attention to interactions between adults and children. Once you feel that you have obtained adequate information about every aspect of the program, you will be able to make a decision about the best care and education for your child.

Remember, the best early childhood programs are those that give children the foundation that they need to build self-esteem, develop school competence, and reach for higher levels of learning. No matter what kind of program you select for your child, you and your child’s teachers can join in a partnership to enhance your child’s learning experience. By building strong home-school relationships from the start, parents and teachers can support children and prepare them for future success, both inside and outside the classroom.

Enter here to see the checklist (pdf).

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