The Importance of Quality Child Care and Early Learning

Research shows that children who are in quality child care and early learning programs when they are young are better prepared for kindergarten with better reading skills, more math skills and larger vocabularies. Grow NJ Kids, New Jersey’s Quality Rating Improvement System, is New Jersey’s program to raise the quality of child care and early learning across the state.

Grow NJ Kids gives child care and early learning programs resources to assess and improve their programs, while providing parents with information that allows them to evaluate the quality of programs and make the best choices for their child. The goal is to create a system that encourages ongoing improvement.
 

How Grow NJ Kids Works

To create a standard way to look at child care and early learning, Grow NJ Kids provides families with an objective rating system.  Based on the findings of a preliminary assessment that the child care and early learning program does on itself, trained professionals work with the program staff to address areas needing improvement. Then, a trained rater, using a comprehensive, research-based tool, formally assesses the program. A high-quality program can earn between three and five stars, giving parents an easy way to make an educated decision about what is best for their child. 

All types of programs can participate in Grow NJ Kids – a child care center, a school- or center-based preschool program, a Head Start program, as well as a registered family child care provider, who cares for children in his/her home. You can learn more about available child care options on our Types of Care page. To find a participating program near you, check out our child care search. 

For more information on Grow NJ Kids , select from the links below:

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