State child care standards rank first in nation
State child care standards rank first in nation
By Randy Ellis
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Published: January 23, 2008
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.
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What did the report find?
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.
Education recommended
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.
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