THE REGULATORY STATUS OF CENTER-BASED INFANT AND TODDLER CHILD-CARE

Ten years ago, a review of U.S. center-based infant and toddler care f ound that not even one state met federally recommended standards of qu ality with regard to group composition, staff training, and program of care. The present analysis indicates that little progress has been ma de since then. While most states currently require centers to follow a ppropriate practice guidelines, standards for staff training were rate d as unacceptable in almost all states. Findings are discussed in term s of the interrelation of quality dimensions and the ongoing importanc e of improved state-level infant and toddler child-care regulation.