Quality Indicators
Families often want to know what they should look for in a high quality early care and education program. Below we have identified some of the most important indicators of quality in a child care program whether it is a center or a home-based program.
Accreditation
Accreditation: Generally, being an accredited program means they follow the national standards with the purpose of meeting higher requirements than the minimum state regulations.
Child care centers, family child care homes and out-of-school-time programs may apply for and receive national accreditation from the following organizations. The accreditation guidelines vary by accrediting organization but are generally higher than those required by local or state regulations and licensing.
Generally, being an accredited program means they follow the national standards with the purpose of meeting higher requirements than the minimum state regulations.
Council on Accreditation
National Association of Child Care Professionals (NAC)
National Association for Family Child Care
National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC)
National Early Childhood Accreditation Program
Council for Professional Recognition
Child care centers, family child care homes and out-of-school-time programs may apply for and receive national accreditation from the following organizations. The accreditation guidelines vary by accrediting organization but are generally higher than those required by local or state regulations and licensing.
Generally, being an accredited program means they follow the national standards with the purpose of meeting higher requirements than the minimum state regulations.
Council on Accreditation
National Association of Child Care Professionals (NAC)
National Association for Family Child Care
National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC)
National Early Childhood Accreditation Program
Council for Professional Recognition
Arizona's Quality Rating and Improvement System - Quality First
On November 7, 2006, Arizonans made an historic decision on behalf of our state’s smallest citizens. By majority vote, they made a commitment to all Arizona children 5 and younger: that kids would have the tools they need to arrive at school healthy and ready to succeed. The voters backed that promise with an 80-cent per pack increase on tobacco products, so that funding for early childhood services for our youngest children would not be at the mercy of economic and political winds. The initiative also created the statewide First Things First board and regional partnership councils that share the responsibility of ensuring that these early childhood funds are spent on strategies that will result in improved education and health outcomes for kids 5 and younger. To see an overview of First Things First, click here.
Star Ratings - Quality First, a program of First Things First
What is Quality First?
Quality First – a signature program of First Things First – partners with child care and preschool providers to improve the quality of early learning across Arizona.
What is a Star Rating?
The quality of each program is assessed using valid and reliable tools that focus on what research shows are the key components of quality early care, including adult-child interactions, learning environments and staff qualifications. Based on these assessments, each program is given a Quality First Star Rating, ranging from 1 to 5 stars.
Why Star Ratings?
First Things First launched Quality First to partner with child care and preschool programs around the state to improve the quality of early learning in Arizona. Quality First provides each enrolled program with coaching and funding, and the program’s leadership and staff provides the dedication and hard work.
Quality First is about continuous quality improvement. The standards are high, and reaching the quality levels is often a long-term process. Programs achieving Star Ratings in the quality levels (3 stars and above) have met these standards. And all participating programs are committed to quality and are making improvements that help prepare kids for school and life.
Programs are assessed every one or two years, depending on their previous rating, and receive a new Star Rating with each assessment. Star Ratings help guide the improvement process by providing both an objective measure of each program’s quality and a goal to achieve.
Quality First Star Ratings also help parents make more informed decisions when looking for a quality child care or preschool program. Parents report that quality is a very important factor in choosing a program for their infant, toddler or preschooler, and Star Ratings are reliable, easy-to-understand indicators of quality. The Star Rating of each program is made public after at least one year of participating in Quality First and is posted at the program’s location as well as this website. First Things First also stresses to parents that ratings are just one of several factors to consider in finding the right program for their family’s needs.
What Quality First Star Ratings Mean?
Quality early learning settings build on basic health and safety to include teachers who know how to work with young children, learning environments that nurture the development of every child, and positive, consistent relationships and interactions that give children the individual attention they need.
Keep in mind that participation in Quality First is voluntary, and all programs enrolled in Quality First have made a commitment to improvements that research shows help young children thrive.
✯✯✯✯✯ Five Stars, Highest Quality - Far exceeds quality standards
✯✯✯✯ Four Stars, Quality Plus - Exceeds quality standards
✯✯✯ Three Stars, Quality - Meets quality standards
✯✯ Two Stars, Progressing Star - Approaching quality standards
✯ One Star, Rising Star - Committed to quality improvement
Criteria for Star Ratings Includes:
Star Ratings - Quality First, a program of First Things First
What is Quality First?
Quality First – a signature program of First Things First – partners with child care and preschool providers to improve the quality of early learning across Arizona.
What is a Star Rating?
The quality of each program is assessed using valid and reliable tools that focus on what research shows are the key components of quality early care, including adult-child interactions, learning environments and staff qualifications. Based on these assessments, each program is given a Quality First Star Rating, ranging from 1 to 5 stars.
Why Star Ratings?
First Things First launched Quality First to partner with child care and preschool programs around the state to improve the quality of early learning in Arizona. Quality First provides each enrolled program with coaching and funding, and the program’s leadership and staff provides the dedication and hard work.
Quality First is about continuous quality improvement. The standards are high, and reaching the quality levels is often a long-term process. Programs achieving Star Ratings in the quality levels (3 stars and above) have met these standards. And all participating programs are committed to quality and are making improvements that help prepare kids for school and life.
Programs are assessed every one or two years, depending on their previous rating, and receive a new Star Rating with each assessment. Star Ratings help guide the improvement process by providing both an objective measure of each program’s quality and a goal to achieve.
Quality First Star Ratings also help parents make more informed decisions when looking for a quality child care or preschool program. Parents report that quality is a very important factor in choosing a program for their infant, toddler or preschooler, and Star Ratings are reliable, easy-to-understand indicators of quality. The Star Rating of each program is made public after at least one year of participating in Quality First and is posted at the program’s location as well as this website. First Things First also stresses to parents that ratings are just one of several factors to consider in finding the right program for their family’s needs.
What Quality First Star Ratings Mean?
Quality early learning settings build on basic health and safety to include teachers who know how to work with young children, learning environments that nurture the development of every child, and positive, consistent relationships and interactions that give children the individual attention they need.
Keep in mind that participation in Quality First is voluntary, and all programs enrolled in Quality First have made a commitment to improvements that research shows help young children thrive.
✯✯✯✯✯ Five Stars, Highest Quality - Far exceeds quality standards
✯✯✯✯ Four Stars, Quality Plus - Exceeds quality standards
✯✯✯ Three Stars, Quality - Meets quality standards
✯✯ Two Stars, Progressing Star - Approaching quality standards
✯ One Star, Rising Star - Committed to quality improvement
Criteria for Star Ratings Includes:
- Health and safety practices that promote children’s basic well being
- Staff qualifications, including experience working with infants, toddlers and preschoolers as well as training or college coursework in early childhood development and education
- Teacher-child interactions that are positive, consistent and nurture healthy development and learning
- Learning environments, including age-appropriate books, toys and learning materials that promote emotional, social, language and cognitive development
- Lessons that follow state requirements or recommendations for infants, toddlers and preschoolers
- Group sizes that give young children the individual attention they need
- Child assessment and parent communication that keeps families regularly informed of their child’s development
- For more information about Quality First, please visit www.qualityfirstaz.com.
State Licensed or Certified Child Care Programs
State Licensed or Certified programs (both centers and homes) meet the state's health and safety standards. Annual inspections are conducted to ensure providers meet all health and safety standards.
To review Arizona licensing standards please visit: http://www.azdhs.gov/licensing/childcare-facilities/index.php#rules-regulations
To review inspection and enforcement, please visit www.azcarecheck.com.
Division of Licensing Services
Office of Child Care Licensing
150 N. 18th Avenue, Suite # 400
Phoenix, AZ 85007-3224
Phone: (602) 364-2539
Web Page: http://www.azdhs.gov/als/childcare/
To review Arizona licensing standards please visit: http://www.azdhs.gov/licensing/childcare-facilities/index.php#rules-regulations
To review inspection and enforcement, please visit www.azcarecheck.com.
Division of Licensing Services
Office of Child Care Licensing
150 N. 18th Avenue, Suite # 400
Phoenix, AZ 85007-3224
Phone: (602) 364-2539
Web Page: http://www.azdhs.gov/als/childcare/
Other Things to Consider:
Health and Safety: Licensed or Certified programs (both centers and homes) meet the state's health and safety standards. Annual inspections are conducted to ensure providers meet all health and safety standards. All complaint information is listed in the search results of every provider referred on the CCR&R website.
Supervision: Children in a child care program need to have adult supervision at all times, including when sleeping, to prevent injuries and ensure children are engaged in activities to promote healthy growth and development.
Group Sizes: Some children thrive in a large group setting, while others need the quiet and comfort of a smaller group. You should look for an environment that most closely matches your child's personality and needs.
Ratios: The younger the child, the more one-on-one care he/she may need. Find out what the child/adult ratio is in each child care facility you visit. For adult to child ratios in Arizona, refer here, Child Care Types.
Caregiver Education and Turnover: An important indicator of quality is the level of education and continuing professional development that the child care provider has. In addition, low staff turnover provides consistency of care for children.
Family Involvement: Quality programs work closely with parents to ensure that they are kept informed about their child's development, and that they offer family members both planned and unplanned opportunities to observe and participate in activities
For examples of Quality Indicators by age group, please call a Child Care Resource and Referral Specialist at 1-800-308-9000.
Supervision: Children in a child care program need to have adult supervision at all times, including when sleeping, to prevent injuries and ensure children are engaged in activities to promote healthy growth and development.
Group Sizes: Some children thrive in a large group setting, while others need the quiet and comfort of a smaller group. You should look for an environment that most closely matches your child's personality and needs.
Ratios: The younger the child, the more one-on-one care he/she may need. Find out what the child/adult ratio is in each child care facility you visit. For adult to child ratios in Arizona, refer here, Child Care Types.
Caregiver Education and Turnover: An important indicator of quality is the level of education and continuing professional development that the child care provider has. In addition, low staff turnover provides consistency of care for children.
Family Involvement: Quality programs work closely with parents to ensure that they are kept informed about their child's development, and that they offer family members both planned and unplanned opportunities to observe and participate in activities
For examples of Quality Indicators by age group, please call a Child Care Resource and Referral Specialist at 1-800-308-9000.
