Licensing vs. Accreditation
 
As a parent searching for quality child care, you may hear providers say “I am licensed” or “We are accredited”. What do these terms mean? How does this information help you in choosing child care?
Licensing:
Licensing regulations are set by each individual state. The goal is to ensure the safety and well-being of children. Programs that are licensed must meet the state’s minimum standards. Each state defines which types of child care arrangements must be licensed.
The Connecticut Department of Public Health (DPH) is the state agency responsible for licensing child care programs. DPH:
- visits and inspects programs on a regular basis
- conducts unannounced inspections
- investigates complaints
- conducts background checks on providers (and household members for family child care)
Licensing status and complaint history of providers is now accessible on-line. The new system allows the public to conduct on-line searches of child day care providers and displays basic license and inspection information, substantiated complaint history information, and formal discipline history information. To learn more, go to https://www.elicense.ct.gov/Lookup/LicenseLookup.aspx and choose Child Day Care Center, Family Day Care Home, Family Day Care Assistant, Family Day Care Substitute or Group Day Care Homes as license type.
Parents are encouraged to check the DPH Day Care Licensing Unit website for:
- information on regulations
- checking on substantiated complaints
- filing a complaint against a licensed program
When is a child care license required?
Child care arrangements that are:
- For more than 3 hours a day
- Taking place outside of the child’s home
- On a consistent basis (i.e. the third Monday of every month)
must have a license.
What are the categories of licensure?
- Family child care home (caring for a maximum of 6 full time and 3 school age children)
- Group child care home (caring for 7 to 12 children)
- Child care center (caring for 13+ children)
Are any child care options exempt from licensing? Yes
- Nanny care
- Relative care (sometimes called “Kith and Kin” or “Family, Friend and Neighbor Care”)
- Programs administered by public or parochial schools
- Drop-in programs where the parents are on premises (i.e.: playgroups, gym, church, etc.)
Accreditation:
These are standards created by national groups. Accreditation standards are most often higher than licensing regulations. Child care programs can voluntarily become accredited; it is not mandated by state law. Therefore, accredited child care programs have gone beyond the minimal licensing standards to assist them in providing quality care.
What types of early childhood programs can become accredited?
- Family child care homes
- Group child care homes
- Child care centers
- Kindergarten classrooms
- School Age
What are the most common types of accreditation?
National Association for
Family Child Care (NAFCC)
Type of child care - Family child care homes
What are the main standards addressed?
- Relationships
- Environment
- Activities
- Developmental Learning Goals
- Safety and Health
- Professional Business Practice
Where can I get more information?
Visit their website: www.nafcc.org
or call 1-800-359-3817
National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC)
Type of child care - Child care centers, Kindergartens, public school preschools
What are the main standards addressed?
- Relationships
- Curriculum
- Teaching
- Assessment of Child Progress
- Health
- Teachers
- Families
- Community Relationships
- Physical Environment
- Leadership & Management
Where can I get more information?
Visit their website: www.naeyc.org
or call
1-800-424-2460
National After School Association (NAA)
Type of child care -
School-Age programs
What are the main standards addressed?
- Human relationships
- Indoor environment
- Outdoor environment
- Activities
- Safety, health, and nutrition
- Administration
Where can I get more information?
Visit their website: www.naaweb.org
or call
1-800-617-8242
For more information on licensing and accreditation, please call 2-1-1 Child Care at 2-1-1 or 1-800-505-1000
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