Standards of Quality

Research shows that children in high-quality care environments show more advanced language skills, do better in school, and have fewer behavior problems and better social skills. Research also shows that teachers with bachelor’s degrees and specialized training in child development provide young children with the best preparation to succeed in kindergarten. 

Workforce performance of parents is enhanced through improved productivity and employee stability when young children are in stable, high-quality early education settings. Parents report their ability to do their jobs is affected by problems finding suitable child care, and many working parents describe missing full and partial days from work due to child care problems. 

More information on the indicators and standards of quality that guide Pennsylvania’s high-quality early care and education programs can be found in the Early Learning Standards and Pennsylvania Quality Rating and Improvement system Keystone STARS.