Download the Report

Parent Guide:

What to Know When You're Looking for a Child Care Provider (English & Spanish)

So you think you’ve found an early education option that you like – maybe it’s a daycare, a family or home-based child care center, another type of child care center, a school, or a preschool. Now what?

When considering early childhood education options, it's crucial for parents to look at the program carefully and decide whether it’s an environment that will be safe, supportive, and nurturing for your child. It’s also important to consider whether the program will meet your family’s needs in terms of location and hours of care.

Here is a cheat sheet for things to consider when evaluating whether a program meets high standards, and list of sample questions you can ask when you're interviewing a potential provider.