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Child care quality
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I hope that parents who have children enrolled in religious child care/preschool programs took careful note of the article "Bill Would Limit State Rules Covering Religious Child Care" (June 20). Do you really want your child to receive care in a center that doesn't want to abide by state licensing regulations? These regulations are in place to assure minimum quality and should be met for all children. Many early childhood centers have additional credentials such as National Association for the Education of Young Children accreditation or are participants in the Keystone STARS quality assurance system.
In addition to basic health and safety standards, the regulations include mandated adult/child ratios, minimum qualifications for staff and very general program guidelines that support the healthy development of children. There is nothing in the guidelines that prevents religious instruction or the choice of a particular curriculum.
Children cannot speak for themselves, so it is parents who are going to have to demand that child care centers are licensed and are of the highest quality possible. Please don't settle for anything less.
LINDA EHRLICH
Brighton Heights
First Published July 2, 2012 12:00 am
