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United States

Early Childhood Profile

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Health and NutritionEarly Care and EducationParenting and Economic Supports

State Choices to Promote Access

  • 11 states set the income eligibility limit for child care subsidies at or above 200% FPL. [2012]1
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  • 1 state [2012]1
  • 25 states redetermine the eligibility for child care subsidies no more than once per year [2010]2
  • 39 states fund a pre-kindergarten program and/or supplement Head Start. [2011]3
50-State Data   Policy Definitions

State Choices to Promote Quality

  • 15 states require one adult for every 10 4-year-olds, and a maximum class size of 20 in child care centers. [2011]4
  • 7 states require one adult for every four 18-month-olds, and a maximum class size of eight in child care centers. [2011]4
  • 27 states allocate state or federal funds for a network of infant/toddler specialists that provide assistance to child care providers. [2010]5
  • 38 states have early learning standards or developmental guidelines for infants and toddlers. [2011]6
  • 46 states state has adopted Common Core Standards [2012]7
  • 21 states have an infant/toddler credential. [2010]8
  • 23 states require through regulation that infants and toddlers in child care centers be assigned a consistent primary caregiver. [2008]9
  • 20 states have implemented a statewide Quality Rating Improvement System (QRIS) [2010]10
50-State Data   Policy Definitions
  
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Data Notes and Sources

Last Updated: February 21, 2013

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  1. Schulman, Karen; Blank, Helen. 2012. Downward Slide: State Child Care Assistance Policies 2012. National Women's Law Center. http://www.nwlc.org (accessed February 1, 2013).
  2. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families. 2010. Report of State and Territory Plans, FY 2010 - 2011. http://nccic.acf.hhs.gov (Accessed February 23, 2010)
  3. Barnett, W.S., Carolan, M.E., Fitzgerald, J., & Squires, J.H. 2011. The State of Preschool 2011: State Preschool Yearbook. New Brunswick, NJ: National Institute for Early Education Research. http://nieer.org (accessed February 1, 2013).
  4. National Association of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies. 2011.We can do Better: NACCRRA's Ranking of State Child Care Center Regulations and Oversight. http://www.naccrra.org (accessed May 21, 2012).
  5. National Infant and Toddler Child Care Initiative. 2010. Infant/Toddler Specialist Network Fact Sheet . http://nitcci.nccic.acf.hhs.gov (accessed August 3, 2011).
  6. National Infant and Toddler Child Care InitativeInfant/Toddler Early Learning Guidelines Factsheet2011. http://www.zerotothree.org (accessed February 1, 2013).
  7. Common Core State Standards Initiative. 2012.In the States.Washington, DC: National Governors Association and Council of Chief State School Officers. http://www.corestandards.org (accessed February 1, 2013).
  8. National Infant and Toddler Child Care Initiative. 2010. Infant/Toddler Credential Fact Sheet. Personal Communication.
  9. National Association for Regulatory Administration and the National Child Care Information and Technical Assistance Center. 2010.The 2008 Child Care Licensing Study: Final Report. http://www.naralicensing.org (accessed August 16, 2010).
  10. NCCP contacted the New Hampshire Bright Stars programs and was informed that it is not a QRIS program. NCCP could not find confirmatory evidence beyond NCCIC that DC Gold Stars program is still active. DC Action for Children reported that the district does not have a QRIS program (http://www.dcactionforchildren.org).
    U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, National Child Care Information and Technical Assistance Center. 2010 States and Communities Operating, Piloting, or Exploring or Designing a Quality Rating and Improvement System nccic.acf.hhs.gov/qrisresourceguide/?do=qrisstate (accessed August 16, 2010).