Ask the Expert: What is Quality Child Care

by Cheryl Tyler, Outreach Specialist, Child Care Answers

One word says it all.  Quality.   According to Webster’s Dictionary, the word quality means a degree of excellence.  Did you choose quality when you chose your child care provider?  Did you pick a child care provider with a degree of excellence?  If not, are you rethinking your decision?

In the state of Indiana we are incredibly lucky.  We have a program that is designed to help you find that excellence.  Paths to QUALITY^TM is that program.  Something you may not know about Paths to QUALITY^TM is that currently it’s a voluntary program.  That’s right, it’s not mandatory.  Providers who are on this voluntary quality rating system have chosen to continue their education, training, and give your child a degree of excellence in their early childhood education.

Paths to QUALITY^TM is a four-level system that is designed to give parents a quality seal of approval on child care providers.  At each level, the provider and staff must complete trainings and continue their education. Each level also builds on each other like a pyramid.

1. Level 1 means that all health and safety standards set by the state of Indiana are met.
2. At level 2, the provider must continue to meet all level 1 standards, and have a consistent daily schedule and planned activities.
3. Level 3 incorporates all level 1 and 2 standards as well as planning appropriate activities that promote school readiness.
4. When a program reaches level 4, the child care has maintained all standards of the first three levels and also becomes nationally accredited.  Also, a level 4 provider is committed to mentoring other programs that are on their way to level 4.

Providers that have chosen to participate in Paths to QUALITY^TM have a deep commitment to Early Childhood Education and your child’s success in school.  If you have chosen a Paths to QUALITY^TM provider, you’ve also made a commitment to your child’s success.  If you haven’t chosen a provider on Paths to QUALITY^TM or you would like more information, please feel free to contact Child Care Answers.  Not only can we answers your questions about Paths to QUALITY^TM and child care, we can also run a child care search for providers who have chosen to participate in this QUALITY^TM rating system.