Finding the right child care provider is often a frustrating and agonizing process – especially for new parents. That’s why the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) launched a new website to help parents evaluate their options and make more informed choices.

The website enables the public to check out the compliance reports of specific child care centers and home day care centers to see if they meet state standards in 50 different areas such as safety, supervision, discipline, cleanliness, and education. At least 22 other states have similar systems. My main criticism of Maryland’s site: it’s not specific enough. Reports only give yes-no responses, but do not elaborate with details, so parents have no way of gauging a problem’s severity. Spokeswoman Mafara Hobson said that there is a “strong possibility” that full inspection reports may be added to the site in the future.

Using an online database to research a child care provider is a good start, but parents – don’t stop there! Definitely pay a visit to the center you are interested in – preferably during the day when it’s in full swing. A former colleague of mine took a morning off work to spend a few hours at a child care center in MA where she had just enrolled her two-year-old son. The center was fully accredited and had a great reputation. The teachers were so negligent (i.e. let a toddler cry alone in the corner for more than 15 minutes, did not wash the children’s hands before lunch…) that she withdrew him immediately. That kind of info may not show up on a Yes/No statewide evaluation – especially if the teachers are prepped in advance of the inspector’s visit – so make sure you do some extra digging. There are some amazing early learning centers out there, and the onus is ultimately on parents to find them.

takepart in checking out child care at MSDE’s new website, and learn more about national child care resource and referral programs.

(Photo: barnabywasson’s flickr photostream)