Understanding Daycare Quality Ratings
Most U.S. states operate a Quality Rating and Improvement System (QRIS) that scores childcare providers on a multi-level scale, typically 1 to 5 stars. These ratings evaluate factors that licensing alone does not cover — curriculum quality, teacher credentials, family engagement, and learning environment. Despite being publicly available, fewer than 30% of parents know these ratings exist. This guide explains what they measure, how to look them up, and what they mean for your child.
What is QRIS?
The Quality Rating and Improvement System is a framework used by state governments to assess, improve, and communicate the quality of childcare providers. The federal government funds QRIS through the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG), which requires states to develop quality improvement standards. Each state designs and administers its own system with its own name, rating scale, and criteria.
Participation is voluntary in most states, meaning not every provider has a QRIS rating. However, states incentivize participation through higher subsidy reimbursement rates for rated providers, quality improvement grants, professional development funding, and public recognition. Some states are moving toward mandatory participation for providers that accept state subsidies.
What Quality Ratings Measure
While criteria vary by state, most QRIS systems evaluate providers across these categories:
Staff Qualifications
Education level and credentials of lead teachers and assistants. Higher-rated programs require teachers with a Child Development Associate (CDA) credential, associate's degree, or bachelor's degree in early childhood education. Ongoing professional development hours are also tracked.
Curriculum and Learning
Whether the provider uses a structured, research-based curriculum (such as Creative Curriculum, HighScope, or Montessori). Assessors evaluate how curriculum is implemented in practice, not just which one is listed. Higher ratings require documented lesson plans and developmental assessments.
Health and Safety
Standards beyond basic licensing requirements. This includes nutrition practices, physical activity policies, screen time limits, and emergency preparedness. Providers must meet all state licensing requirements before they can even enter the QRIS rating process.
Family Engagement
How the program communicates with and involves families. Higher-rated programs offer regular parent-teacher conferences, written progress reports, family events, and formal feedback mechanisms. Some systems evaluate whether programs connect families with community resources.
Learning Environment
Physical classroom setup, age-appropriate materials, and organization. Many states use standardized observation tools like the Environment Rating Scales (ERS) or the Classroom Assessment Scoring System (CLASS) to evaluate the quality of teacher-child interactions.
Ratios and Group Size
Staff-to-child ratios that exceed state licensing minimums. Top-rated programs maintain smaller group sizes than required by law. For example, a state may license a toddler room at 1:6 ratios, but a 5-star program might maintain 1:4.
How to Check Your Provider's Rating
Follow these steps to find out if your current or prospective provider has a quality rating:
- Visit ChildCare.gov
The federal government's ChildCare.gov provider search tool links to every state's licensing and quality rating databases. Start here if you are not sure which system your state uses.
- Search your state's QRIS website directly
Use the table below to find your state's QRIS program name, then search for "[program name] provider search" online. Most states offer a searchable database where you can look up providers by name, address, or ZIP code.
- Ask the provider
Rated providers typically display their rating certificate in their lobby or entrance. If you do not see one, ask directly: "Do you participate in [state QRIS name]? What is your current rating?" If they do not participate, ask why — it may be a resource issue or a deliberate choice.
- Check licensing records separately
QRIS ratings are different from licensing status. A provider can be fully licensed but unrated. Always verify licensing status through your state's childcare licensing division, which tracks inspections, violations, and compliance history.
State-by-State QRIS Programs
Every state calls its quality rating system something different. Find yours below and click through to your state's cost data page.
| State | QRIS Program Name | Rating Scale |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Quality STARS | 1-5 Stars |
| Alaska | Learn & Grow | 1-5 Stars |
| Arizona | Quality First | 1-5 Stars |
| Arkansas | Better Beginnings | 1-3 Levels |
| California | Quality Counts California | 1-5 Tiers |
| Colorado | Colorado Shines | 1-5 Levels |
| Connecticut | CT Quality Improvement System | 1-5 Levels |
| Delaware | Delaware Stars | 1-5 Stars |
| Florida | Gold Seal Quality Care | Gold Seal designation |
| Georgia | Quality Rated | 1-3 Stars |
| Hawaii | PATCH Quality Rating | 1-4 Levels |
| Idaho | IdahoSTARS | Steps to Quality |
| Illinois | ExceleRate Illinois | 4 Levels (Licensed-Gold) |
| Indiana | Paths to QUALITY | 1-4 Levels |
| Iowa | Iowa Quality Rating System | 1-5 Levels |
| Kansas | Links to Quality | 1-5 Links |
| Kentucky | STARS for KIDS NOW | 1-4 Stars |
| Louisiana | Quality Start | 1-5 Stars |
| Maine | Quality for ME | 1-4 Steps |
| Maryland | Maryland EXCELS | 1-5 Levels |
| Massachusetts | QRIS | 1-4 Levels |
| Michigan | Great Start to Quality | 1-5 Stars |
| Minnesota | Parent Aware | 1-4 Stars |
| Mississippi | Quality Stars | 1-5 Stars |
| Missouri | Quality Rating System | 1-5 Stars |
| Montana | STARS to Quality | 1-5 Stars |
| Nebraska | Step Up to Quality | 1-5 Steps |
| Nevada | Silver State Stars QRIS | 1-5 Stars |
| New Hampshire | Licensed Plus | Licensed Plus designation |
| New Jersey | Grow NJ Kids | 1-5 Stars |
| New Mexico | FOCUS | 1-5+ Stars |
| New York | QUALITYstarsNY | 1-5 Stars |
| North Carolina | NC Star Rated License | 1-5 Stars |
| North Dakota | Bright & Early ND | 1-5 Steps |
| Ohio | Step Up to Quality | 1-5 Stars |
| Oklahoma | Reaching for the Stars | 1-3 Stars |
| Oregon | Spark | 1-5 Stars |
| Pennsylvania | Keystone STARS | 1-4 Stars |
| Rhode Island | BrightStars | 1-5 Stars |
| South Carolina | ABC Quality | A-B+ Levels |
| South Dakota | Childcare STARS | 1-4 Stars |
| Tennessee | Star-Quality Program | 1-3 Stars |
| Texas | Texas Rising Star | 2-4 Stars |
| Utah | Care About Childcare | 1-3 Levels |
| Vermont | STARS | 1-5 Stars |
| Virginia | Virginia Quality | 1-5 Levels |
| Washington | Early Achievers | 1-5 Levels |
| West Virginia | WV STARS | 1-3 Steps |
| Wisconsin | YoungStar | 1-5 Stars |
| Wyoming | Quality Counts | 1-5 Stars |
| Washington, D.C. | Capital Quality | 1-5 Levels |
Does Higher Quality Mean Higher Cost?
Research from the National Institute for Early Education Research (NIEER) and others consistently shows a modest cost premium for higher-rated providers, typically 10-20% more than lower-rated peers in the same market. Here is what the data tells us:
The Cost Premium
- A 5-star program typically costs 10-20% more than a 1-2 star program in the same area.
- The premium is driven by higher staff wages (better-qualified teachers cost more), lower ratios (more staff per child), and better materials and facilities.
- In dollar terms, this translates to roughly $1,000-$2,500/year more for center-based infant care.
The Returns
- Children in high-quality programs show stronger language development, better school readiness scores, and improved social-emotional skills.
- The Perry Preschool Study and the Abecedarian Project found that high-quality early care produced long-term gains in educational attainment and earnings.
- Many states offset the cost premium by paying higher subsidy reimbursement rates to top-rated providers, effectively making quality care the same price as basic care for subsidy-eligible families.
Accreditation vs State Ratings
National accreditation and state QRIS ratings are separate systems. Here is how they compare:
| Feature | State QRIS | NAEYC Accreditation | NAC / NAFCC |
|---|---|---|---|
| Administering body | State government | National Association for the Education of Young Children | National Accreditation Commission / National Association for Family Child Care |
| Scope | Varies by state | National (consistent standards) | National |
| Participation rate | Varies (20-60% of providers) | ~7% of centers | ~2-3% of home providers |
| Rigor | Moderate (tiered levels) | High (pass/fail, extensive criteria) | High |
| Cost to provider | Free (state-funded) | $1,500-$3,000+ for the accreditation process | $500-$1,500 |
| Renewal cycle | 1-3 years | 5 years | 3-5 years |
What this means for parents
NAEYC accreditation is the gold standard for center-based care. If a provider is NAEYC-accredited, they have met rigorous national standards that many state QRIS systems automatically recognize with top-tier ratings. The National Association for Family Child Care (NAFCC) accreditation serves a similar role for home-based providers. If you can find an accredited provider that fits your budget and location, it is generally the highest-quality option available. See our guide on how to choose a daycare for more factors to evaluate.
Quality care does not have to break the bank
Many states pay higher subsidy reimbursement rates to top-rated providers, which means quality care can cost the same as basic care if you qualify for childcare subsidies. You can also reduce costs with federal tax credits and the 12 strategies in our cost-reduction guide.