Rhode Island

And how does UW know what constitutes a top notch day care? Are they in the business of education now? Everyone wants to climb the mountain of critics and expound and point fingers and pontificate, but few people get in the trenches and stay there. Maybe there are too many critics and not enough compliments.

United Way Proposes Rating System For Day-Care Centers
Centers Would Be Rated With Stars
November 21, 2005

How do you really know if your child's day-care facility is top notch?

All centers in Rhode Island have to be licensed, but a new system is being developed that will give parents more information.

The United Way of Rhode Island launched a program Monday that will develop a ratings system for every facility across the state, including home-based centers and after-school programs.

It will look at a center's staff qualifications, turnover rates and pay scales, as well as curricula
and learning environment.

The centers will be rated with stars, much like hotels. The more stars, the better the facility, at least in theory.

Eleven other states have already developed a rating system for child-care centers.

If you are a parent and want to be involved in creating the system, call Rhode Island Kids Count at (401) 351-9400.