Choosing a childcare center is one of the most important decisions a parent will ever make. Thanks to a new North Carolina rating system, it is going to be a lot easier. The state Division of Child Development has issued its first rated licenses to eight centers across the state. The new licenses use stars to show parents how well the center is doing in program standards, staff education and compliance history. Centers can receive up to five points in each of the three areas.
Centers can receive up to five stars as a total rating.
Parents deserve a similar rating system for child care centers. This is going to make things a whole lot easier for consumers facing what could well be one of the most important decisions they make for their families. Parents will see how well child care providers score in three areas that will determine the star rating - program standards, staff education and compliance history. Providers will earn more points for having a high quality environment for children, for having staff with more early childhood education and experience, and for having a high rate of compliance with child care regulations. The more points a program earns, the more stars it will have on its license.