Finding Quality Care & Education

Finding Quality Care

One of the most important choices a parent of a young child can make is deciding on a child care provider. Looking for a quality early learning program? Try these Program Searches to locate one in your area:

Pre-K Counts, established by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, is bringing quality half-day and full-day pre-kindergarten to 3 and 4-year-olds in Pennsylvania.

Pennsylvania offers programs in Head Start and Early Head Start, family/child services for low-income and/or children with diagnosed special needs.

Kindergarten Readiness and transition to elementary school is a big issue for many parents of young children. We got resources to help you understand and make decisions about this issue for your family.

PennAEYC is very pleased to feature NAEYC accredited centers from around the state.

Types of child care

Pennsylvania regulates three types of child care programs for infants through school-age children. These programs must meet minimum requirements for the environment, staffing, program, and health and safety of the children. Many programs also voluntarily participate in accreditation programs which have higher standards, such as NAEYC Accreditation and the Pennsylvania Keystone STARS program.

Types of regulated child care in Pennsylvania:

family child care homes - a home providing care for 4 - 6 children not related to the operator

group child care home - a facility providing care for 7 - 12 children not related to the operator

child care center - a facility providing care for seven or more children not related to the operator

Parents may also choose unregulated care, such as a family member or neighbor.

Parent Resources

The state provides a network of Child Care Information Services offices to inform parents about licensed child care available in local areas.

For information about state-funded assistance with child care costs, or to apply for assistance, click here.

Pennsylvania Promise for Children website provides information about the importance of early learning, Pennsylvania's early learning programs (such as child care, Head Start, and preschool), and ways you can be involved.

Pennsylvania Child Care Association offers a parent resource center for finding quality child care.

Child Care Aware offers a checklist of things to look and listen for in daycare centers.

Zero to Three offers advice on choosing care for infants and toddlers.

The National Resource Center for Health and Safety in Child Care has a four-page printable parent’s guide for choosing quality child care.

PennAEYC

Pennsylvania Association for the Education of Young Children

One of the most important choices a parent of a young child can make is deciding on a child care provider. Looking for a quality early learning program? Try these Program Searches to locate one in your area: