Research tells us that our children's healthy development depends on safe and positive experiences during the first few years of a child's life, therefore, choosing good quality early childhood setting is none of the most important decisions you'll ever make for your child. Choosing the right early childhood setting can be overwhelming.

We want to help you identify those quality programs by informing you, what does quality child care look like? The Quality Childcare Flyer provides more information on what quality child care looks like. Each graphic in the flyer, represents specific measures of the qualities children need to develop their full potential.
 
The Quality Counts California website offers concise information parents may find helpful in determining the most appropriate child care setting for their children.

Please click on the link to visit their page focused on families: Quality Counts California

If you are looking for child care in Kings County please click here to be directed to KCAO Online Referral System.

Early childhood settings that are rated by Kings County Cares About Quality (KCCAQ), are committed to quality. KCCAQ assesses program quality comparably across provider types (publicly and privately funded, centers and family child care homes) and provides a tier rating based on quality elements, which include the following:

Core 1: Child Development and School Readiness-

• Child observation-Daily learning activities support each child’s interests, growth, and development, as well as culture and home language.
• Developmental and Health Screenings-A child’s overall wellbeing is supported. This includes his or her physical growth, as well as ability to learn and get along with others.
  

Core 2: Teachers and Teaching-

• Early Childhood Educator Qualifications: Directors and teachers are trained in child development and early learning. Some have college units or college degrees.
• Effective Teacher-Child Interactions- How staff interacts with each other to establish emotional connection. It’s all about creating a warm, positive place where children feel safe to take risks and make friends. Furthermore, how well teachers help children learn creatively. Teachers must facilitate conversations in which children begin connecting the dots between what they’re learning with their real life.
  

Core 3: Program and Environment-

• Licensing and Regulatory Requirements: Ratios and Group Size (Centers Only)-The number of teachers and the size of the group of children is taken into consideration for this element. A larger number of teachers and smaller group sizes of children help staff spend more quality time engaging with individual children.
• Program Administration and Leadership: Environment Rating Scale(s)-ECERS-R, ITERS-R, FCCERS-R-Environment The setting allows children to learn and develop to their fullest potential. This includes high-interest activities, safety, and staff interactions with children in a safe and healthy environment. Program Administration and Leadership: Director Qualifications (Centers Only)
• Program Administration and Leadership: Director Qualifications (Centers Only)