State child care standards rank first in nation

Oklahoma ranks No. 1 in the nation for having the best standards and oversight of small family child care homes, according to a report released Tuesday by the National Association of Child Care Resource & Referral Agencies.

Although Oklahoma ranks first, the association said it still only meets 75 percent of basic requirements necessary to promote development and learning while ensuring the safety and health of children.

Oklahoma fully met four of 14 standards and partially met the remaining 10, the report said

The report is titled "Leaving Children to Chance: NACCRRA's Ranking of State Standards and Oversight of Small Family Child Care Homes.”

It examined programs in 50 states, the District of Columbia, and a Department of Defense program, focusing on home-based child care programs that serve six or fewer children

Last March, the association released a similar report that focused on large child care centers that are not located in homes. Oklahoma ranked sixth in that report.

Strengths included:

•Providers caring for even one unrelated child are required to be licensed.

•Background checks are required of providers, substitutes and assistants.

•Providers are required to have at least 12 hours of annual training (including CPR and first aid).

•Providers are required to limit TV use and provide seven learning and literacy opportunities that fall within specific categories.

•Providers must follow 10 health requirements that include such things as hand washing, meals, snacks and immunizations.

•Ten safety measures are required involving such areas as discipline, crib safety and protection from electrical hazards.

Weaknesses included:

•Oklahoma's background checks do not use fingerprints or check juvenile records.

•The state allows a single provider to care for as many as five children under 24 months old at the same time. The association contends that five children is too many.

The report also contends Oklahoma should have stiffer education and training requirements for child care providers. The state strengthened requirements in October to require providers to obtain a high school diploma or GED.

The report recommends additional education such as a Child Development Associate credential, college courses in early childhood education or an associate's degree within three years of starting to provide child care. In addition, the group recommends at least 40 hours of training before providers begin caring for children.

Fifteen states were given a score of zero by the association for either not regulating small family child care homes, not conducting inspections prior to issuing licenses, or allowing more than six children in care before applying any state regulations.

They were Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Michigan, Montana, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Virginia and West Virginia.

Oklahoma scored a 105 out of a possible 140.