State aims to rate child care

State aims to rate child care: "Arizona is in the midst of developing a rating system for its more than 2,000 licensed child-care centers. The system would make it easier for parents to know the quality of individual centers, including teachers' education level, student-to-teacher ratios and curriculum. The Arizona School Readiness Board, which reports to the governor, is developing a system that would give centers a quality rating like a hotel or restaurant. At least 15 states rate child-care centers, following similar standards of the National Association for the Education of Young Children, which accredits centers across the country that meet high standards. In Arizona, about 10 percent of child-care centers are accredited. United Way of Tucson and Southern Arizona is leading the way with a pilot, five-star rating system for about 60 child-care centers, including at least three in the Valley. United Way expects to launch the program in February."