Child Care Centers provide care for larger numbers of children for part or full day programs. Centers are organized to meet the needs of children and working families. They are usually open year round. Child Care Centers offer programs to a variety of age groups and vary in terms of educational philosophy, curriculum, costs and services. These programs are licensed by The Department of Early Education and care or license exempt depending on their overseeing entity.

Basic adult/child ratios allowed by licensing are:

Infants: 2:7 Toddlers: 2:9 Preschool: 2:10

A program may choose to have less children per adult than licensing allows.

Nursery School Programs typically offer only part-time care, usually for children 2 years & 9 months to five years of age. The children have an opportunity to socialize with other children their own age and engage in a variety of organized activities. Most nursery schools close for the summer, vacations and holidays, though there may be coverage at an extra fee. These programs may be licensed by EEC or license exempt depending on their overseeing entity.

Head Start is a child development program designed to promote the growth and development of children from low-income families. Children ages three to five years attend. Head Start provides learning and development services for families with children.

Before & After School (School Age Care - SAC) Programs may be located in schools, child care centers, family child care homes, churches or other settings that offer child care. These programs may be licensed or license exempt depending on their overseeing entity. SAC programs usually provide child care to kindergarten through sixth grade children before and after school, during school vacations and summer breaks.
Special Needs arrangements can be found in all types of child care. Contact your local CCR&R agency for information about Early Childhood Special Education programs and services for your child.

Family Child Care Systems are a formal network of licensed family child care homes coordinated by a central child care organization. Often, these systems provide social workers and/or educational coordinators who may be involved in training and recruiting providers and assisting them with issues and problems that arise. Transportation services are also provided by many FCC Systems