The years before kindergarten shape a child's lifelong ability to learn, connect, and grow. Early care and education resources help families find safe, high quality child care and preschool options, understand licensing and program standards, and access guidance on child development milestones.
These resources support parents in choosing the right environment for their child while ensuring that setting meets health, safety, and educational standards.
Early Care & Education
California Department of Social Services, Child Care Licensing
The state agency responsible for licensing child care centers and preschools, ensuring providers meet health, safety, and staffing requirements.
Resources for Parents and Families, CA Department of Education
Offers guidance on choosing quality child care, understanding how children learn from birth to age five, and information on parental involvement in early education, including a guide called "Care About Quality: Your Guide to Child Care."
California Department of Education, Early Education Division
Oversees child care and development programs statewide, offering resources for families and providers on early learning standards, program options, and how to find local child care.
Some more resources for Early Care & Education
Designed to provide all children from prenatal to age five with comprehensive child development services on a community by community basis, offering parenting tips and early learning resources.
A federal hub linking to California specific resources including preschool learning foundations, kindergarten readiness guides, universal pre-K information, and financial assistance for child care
LA County's Quality Rating and Improvement System that helps families search for and compare rated early learning providers for children birth to five.
Connects families to local Child Care Resource and Referral agencies, which help parents find, understand, and afford quality child care in their area.
"'Guiding families to quality early education."'