Quality Counts

Quality Counts is a voluntary five-star rating system for providers of early childcare and education to ensure quality standards so children enter school eager and ready to learn. The rating system encompasses six standards:

1. Learning Environment
2. Staff-to-Child Ratio/Group Sizes
3. Family Engagement
4. Curriculum
5. Administration
6. Staff Qualifications/Professional Development

Participating providers receive professional support and financial incentives, including grants, educational scholarships for staff, wage supplements, early learning coaching and networking, technical assistance, and financial awards. Childcare centers, school-based sites, and family childcare homes that hold a current service agreement with Family Central, Inc. and have been licensed for at least one year are eligible to participate in this comprehensive rating program.

This program is locally funded by Children Services Council of Palm Beach County.

1. To produce positive outcomes for children.
2. To provide consumer education to help parents recognize, expect and seek out quality in a childcare setting and to articulate the standards for quality to childcare providers and parents.
3. To define, advocate for and obtain the resources necessary to encourage, support and promote quality early care and education.

Between the 2007-2008 and 2008-2009 years, the percentage of practitioners not holding a high school diploma or GED reduced from 25.5% to 16.6%. Over the same period, the percentage of practitioners who have associate's, bachelor's, or master's degrees increased by approximately 5%, and the total number of certificates earned increased from 2,186 to 3,624.