Child Care

Understanding North Carolina’s Star Rating System

The state of North Carolina has implemented a star rating program to help parents make an informed decision when choosing quality child care for their children. Child care programs are monitored by state representatives on three basic components: staff education, program standards, and quality. A 5-star rating is considered the highest star rating with a 1-star being the lowest. Smart Start funds programs to help child care facilities improve their star ratings.

• Star Rating Overview — More information on how the state rates child care programs.
• Star Rating Search — A searchable database through the Division of Child Development website to find a child care facility’s star rating in any North Carolina county.

What Parents Should Know About Child Care

• North Carolina Division of Child Development — Provides information on how to find help to pay for child care, obtain child care for special needs children, and other valuable information
• North Carolina Child Care Regulations — Gives a summary of state requirements for child care facilities, including parental rights and how to report a problem.
• Quality Child Care Checklist — Easy-to-print checklist for parents to use when evaluating child care providers.
• Child Care Resources, Inc. — Provides information on quality child care standards, community resources, online referrals, child care subsidies and much more.