PennAEYC

Pennsylvania Association for the Education of Young Children
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Finding Quality Care and Education

One of the most important choices a parent of a young child can make is deciding on a child care provider.  

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 Keystone STARS program. 

 
family child care homes - a home providing care for 4, 5, or 6 children not related to the operator, required to have a certificate of registration from the State Department of Public Welfare
 
group child care home - a facility providing care for 7 - 12 children (or 7 - 15 4th graders and older) not related to the operator, required to have a certificate of compliance from the State Department of Public Welfare
 
child care center - a facility providing care for seven or more children not related to the operator, required to have a certificate of compliance from the State Department of Public Welfare
 
Parents may also choose unregulated care, such as a family member or neighbor. 
 
The State recently began providing funding for a limited number of free Pre-Kindergarten programs; click here for details.
 
The Federal government provides funding for Head Start and Early Head Start, family/child services for low-income and/or children with diagnosed special needs.  For more information about Head Start/Early Head Start, click here.
 
 

Parent Resources

 

Here are some places to find useful information to help you make the best possible decision for your children and family.

 

Tufts University offers a Child and Family Web Guide which rates websites and web articles for parents.

 

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's Office of Child Development Early Learning provides the Keystone STARS quality improvement program for child care.  Check if your child care site is participating and see how many stars they have!

 

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

 

NAEYC offers a voluntary Accreditation for early childhood programs which meet high quality standards.  To see if a specific center has NAEYC Accreditation, click here.

 

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 .