DATE: April 24, 2007
TO: Board of Supervisors  
SUBJECT: A rating system for licensed child day care facilities

SUMMARY:
Finding quality childcare is often a stressful endeavor for parents.  A simple and innovative new system promises to make the search for a quality facility easier and help parents stay informed of facility violations.   

I request your support for California State Assembly Bill 313 (AB 313) which would require the State Department of Social Services to develop and implement a licensed child day care facility rating system for quality of care and child safety.  This rating would be posted in a conspicuous place at each facility for parents to access, in addition to being posted on the Department’s Internet website.  Furthermore, the Department would be required to update the posted ratings as often as possible to maintain current and accurate information.   

Today’s action will authorize the Chief Administrative Officer to prepare a letter, to be signed by the Chairman of the San Diego County Board of Supervisors, stating San Diego County’s support for California Assembly Bill 313 as well as direct the Chief Administrative Officer to include this action in the Board’s 2007 Legislative Program.  

Recommendations
Supervisor Dianne Jacob:

1. Direct the Chief Administrative Officer to draft a letter for signature by the Chairman to members of the San Diego Delegation, the Governor of California, and the County’s State Representative in support of AB 313 (Benoit, Evans and Lieu), related to the development and establishment of a licensed child day care facility rating system. 
2. Direct the Chief Administrative Officer to include this action in the Board’s 2007 Legislative Program.

Fiscal Impact:
There is no fiscal impact associated with this action.

Background:
In California, 1.2 million children spend a large portion of their day in one of the State’s 58,000 child care facilities.  Choosing a child care facility, especially for the first time, can be a daunting task.  Parents constantly hear horror stories about neglect and violations at some child care centers. Unfortunately, any information about the quality of a day care facility is inaccessible or hard to find. 

California State Assembly Bill 313 (AB 313) would require the State Department of Social Services to establish a licensed child day care facility rating system for the quality of care and child safety.  This rating would be posted in a conspicuous place at each facility for parents to access, in addition to being posted on the Department’s Internet website.  Furthermore, the Department would be required to update the posted ratings as often as possible to maintain current and accurate information.    

The goal of AB 313 is to provide parents and the public with accessible information to make informed decisions about child care.  In addition, it will allow child care providers to receive feedback about their services so they can adjust and improve.

The State currently inspects child day care facilities, however the results of such inspections can be difficult to locate.  A simple ‘A’, ‘B’, ‘C’, rating system will provide parents with an easy mechanism for oversight.  This type of rating system would mirror the posting of ratings of the food service industry that is conducted by the County’s health inspectors.  Parents will also be able to go online to learn about possible health or safety violations, teacher-to-student ratios, and quality levels.  California is following the lead of about 13 states that already have successful detailed rating systems in place.

Some day care centers in the past, have been cited for repeated violations without providing any safety measures until it was too late.  With a rating system in place, the dropping grade would alert parents that a violation has occurred allowing them to take the necessary steps to keep their child safe.  This will also provide child care providers with feedback about their own services so that they can make improvement changes.

Today’s action will authorize the Chief Administrative Officer to prepare a letter, to be signed by the Chairman of the San Diego County Board of Supervisors, stating San Diego County’s support for California Assembly Bill 313 as well as direct the Chief Administrative Officer to include this action in the Board’s 2007 Legislative Program.

I urge your support!

Respectfully Submitted,

 

DIANNE JACOB
Supervisor, Second District