Every state assumes responsibility for regulating child care. The federal government has not set national child care standards. Regulations vary widely among the states regarding requirements for group size, ratios of children per staff member, teacher training, nutrition, health, safety and space requirements. Regulations do not assure high quality of care. Instead they set the basic floor level of quality protection that must be present when children are in child care.
Many parents prefer regulated care, knowing some degree of monitoring takes place.
Wisconsin requires families eligible for public funding to use a regulated program. May care for no more than 3 children under the age of 7 who are not related to the provider, and an additional 3 related children Many provisionally certified providers move up to this level upon completion of their formal training. No more than eight children, at any one time, are allowed in licensed family child care homes. Health and safety requirements are more extensive than for certification. Forty hours of formal training is required for the provider A department-approved course in caring for infants and toddlers is needed if any child will be younger than age two.