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Program Standards

What to Look For in Early Care and Education Programs

Here are some of the things you should to look for when evaluating early care and education programs:

Teachers who are professionally educated, and

• have and demonstrate knowledge and skill of early learning theories and practices
• are well compensated
• have warm, responsive relationships with children
• have positive ongoing relations with parents and schools
• are committed to ongoing professional growth

Environments that are developmentally appropriate, meet health and safety standards, and

• are supportive and nurturing
• encourage both group and individual activities
• accommodate children with special needs
• have low adult/child ratio:

      - infants: 1 adult to every 4 babies
      - toddlers: 1 adult to every 6 children
      - preschool: 1 adult for every 8 children
      - school age: 1 adult for every 10 children

Caregiving Health and Safety Tips

Curriculum that is culturally competent and flexible to meet the needs of all children, and

• is developmentally appropriate
• is both interesting and challenging
• allows for both child-directed and teacher-directed activities
• prepares children for school and social success
• supports lifelong learning
• encourages and supports innovation

Parents who are involved as partners in their children's early education and school learning at home, and

• look for written policies that clearly state the value of quality early learning experiences and provide information about the value of early learning experiences
• provide opportunities that involve in-class learning at home

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