Many experts and day-care providers say it makes sense to eliminate the state's A standards and make everyone meet AA standards. Day-care owners say it could drive up cost of care, but some advocates say many day cares are operating between the two standards, so the cost might not be that dramatic. Regulators say they could also visit stellar day cares less frequently and focus more on frequent offenders.
Current law requires annual licensing visits for all centers.
But the program has drawn national praise for bringing state money and private donations together to improve care. Spur parent involvement Experts say parents need to check up on their day cares. If everyone makes sure day cares are licensed by calling the state, it would put illegal centers out of business. Most important, parents should be well-informed consumers, judging day care not only on cost and convenience but on the center's curriculum and the training of its teachers. Massachussetts and California both do that.