Child Care Accreditation

Accredited Child Care Centers Accredited Family Child Care Providers

In 1975, the City of Madison created a program that remains unique in the nation: a child care assistance program for Madison’s low-income families, funded through the property tax base, which ties assistance to families with quality care for children and support for programs. The main goal of the Madison Child Care Accreditation Program is to support and promote high quality child care and early education for all children and families in the City of Madison. The City established a voluntary accreditation process based on a set of high quality standards  English  Español that promote optimal child development. These Standards go beyond the licensing regulations to protect the health and safety of children.The standards are used in Madison Accredited early care and education programs such as child care centers, preschools, Head Start programs, and school-age child care programs (after-school and summer day camps). Family child care providers use a similar set of standards tailored to in-home child care. The Madison Family Child Care Accreditation Standards are used with family child care programs and are administered through Satellite Family Child Care System.

• For Families

• For Providers Seeking Madison Accreditation

• For Madison Accredited Providers

The Madison Child Care Accreditation Program also provides Child Care Tuition Assistance funding to cover part of child care costs for eligible families.  Child Care Tuition Assistance is only available in Madison accredited child care centers and family child care homes.

The Madison Child Care Accreditation Program is currently launching Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation (IECMHC) services. The program aims to assist accredited centers to promote positive mental health through social and emotional learning while preventing children’s use of challenging behaviors. This work supports our efforts to prevent expulsions and suspensions and ensure a positive trajectory for our youngest learners.

As you look for care for your child, ask whether the center or home is accredited by the City of Madison. Our children deserve the best.