Behind the guide
Built on research, not opinion.
Every question in the visit checklist and every line in the curriculum guides traces back to published research, federal standards, or input from early childhood educators and developmental psychologists. Here is how we built it.
Core research we drew from
National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC)
Developmentally Appropriate Practice (DAP) guidelines, the gold standard for what quality early learning looks like at every age.
Head Start Program Performance Standards (HSPPS)
Federal requirements for center-based and home-based early learning programs serving low-income families — widely adopted as a quality baseline.
Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) reauthorization
Health, safety, and staffing requirements that all state-licensed programs must meet or exceed.
Classroom Assessment Scoring System (CLASS)
The observation tool used by researchers and federal evaluators to measure teacher-child interaction quality.
Environment Rating Scales (ECERS-3, ITERS-3, FCCERS-3)
Internationally validated instruments for scoring the physical environment, routines, and instructional support.
How the checklist was built
The 120+ question visit checklist started as a review of every item on the ECERS-3, ITERS-3, and FCCERS-3 instruments. We translated observational criteria into plain-English questions a parent can ask or observe in a single 30- to 60-minute tour.
Each question was then cross-checked against CLASS dimensions (Emotional Support, Classroom Organization, Instructional Support) and NAEYC DAP indicators. Questions that required specialist training or extended observation were simplified or removed. Questions that parents could reasonably assess — licensing, ratios, educator qualifications, safety, curriculum alignment, and family communication — were kept and grouped into the eight sections you see today.
The result is a parent-facing tool that borrows the rigor of professional observational instruments without requiring a degree in early childhood education to use.
Curriculum guide methodology
The twelve curriculum profiles were developed from primary-source philosophy documents, accredited training manuals, and the published standards of each approach's founding or governing body — for example, AMI and AMS for Montessori, NAREA for Reggio Emilia-inspired programs in North America, and the Pikler Association for RIE/Pikler.
Where a program claims to blend philosophies, we note the tension honestly: what each approach truly values, where schools often cut corners, and what questions to ask to tell marketing from implementation. No curriculum is presented as universally best; each is scored on fit — not quality — because the right choice depends on your child, your family values, and your practical constraints.
Expert input
The content was reviewed and refined with input from practicing early childhood educators, a developmental psychologist specializing in infant-toddler care, and center directors operating Montessori, Reggio-inspired, and play-based programs. Their feedback focused on:
- Whether questions were fair and observable during a standard parent tour
- Whether curriculum descriptions accurately reflected classroom reality
- Whether safety and staffing questions matched real state licensing variation
- Whether the tone supported parent confidence without creating unnecessary alarm
State-by-state licensing
Licensing rules vary by state. Where possible, the checklist references the most common thresholds (for example, 1:4 for infants, 1:8 for preschoolers) and prompts parents to verify the specific limits in their state. We do not claim to replace your state's official licensing lookup — we make it easier to know what to look up and why it matters.
Limitations & scope
Child Care Compass is an educational resource, not a certification or inspection service. A high score on the visit checklist does not guarantee a program is safe or high-quality, and a low score does not mean a program is failing. It means there are questions worth asking.
We focus on what a parent can reasonably observe or ask during a visit. We do not cover financial audits, staff background-check verification, or legal compliance review — all of which are important and should be pursued separately through your state licensing body.
If you find an error, an outdated reference, or a question you think should be added, we want to hear from you. The guide evolves as standards and research do.
See the research in action.
Start a visit checklist and compare programs with the same questions researchers use.