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Care About Quality: Your Guide to Child Care

Care About Quality was published by the California Department of Education (CDE) in 2000.

Introduction

Whether you work full time or part time or just need an occasional caregiver, quality child care is a necessity for both you and your child.  While no one can replace a loving parent, an excellent child care provider can enrich your child’s life and give you peace of mind that your child is in good hands.

For some, choosing quality child care is simple—a favorite family member offers to care for your child. For others, the search turns into a series of phone calls, questions, and visits to child care providers. In other words, you may spend a great deal of time searching for the right caregiver.

Trust should be a primary issue when choosing child care. Trust begins at the first interview and continues throughout your entire child care experience. Having confidence in your provider is one of the ways you know you’ve found quality child care. The bottom line is, you need to feel that the child care arrangement you select will be a safe and loving experience in which your child will thrive.

This resource guide is provided by the CDE to help you find quality child care. The CDE hopes that the tips, checklists, and vital information it includes will help you ask the right questions, locate the right resources, and ultimately, find the best possible care for your child.

Defining Quality Child Care

Care About Quality Table of Contents

Questions:   Early Education Division | 916-322-6233
Last Reviewed: Tuesday, May 13, 2025
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