Know Your Rights

When your child is in child care or preschool, as a parent you have certain rights and responsibilities. You should also be aware of laws that are in place to protect your children.

You have the right to:

• Enter and inspect the child care facility (home or center) without advance notice whenever your child is in care
• File a complaint against the licensee with the licensing office and review the licensee’s public file kept by the licensing office
• Review, at the child care facility, reports of licensing visits and substantiated complaints against the licensee made during the last three years
• Complain to the licensing office and inspect the child care facility without discrimination or retaliation against you or your child
• Be notified and receive, from the licensee, a written notice that lists the name of any person not allowed in the child care facility while children are present
• Request in writing that a parent not be allowed to visit your child or take your child from the child care facility, provided you have shown a certified copy of a court order
• Receive the name, address and telephone number of the local licensing office from the licensee
• Be informed by the licensee, upon request, of the name and type of association to the child care facility for any adult who has been granted a criminal record exemption, and that the name of the person may also be obtained by contacting the local licensing office
• Receive, from the licensee, the caregiver background check process form
• Be informed when a communicable disease or injury defined as an unusual incident by Community Care Licensing has arisen with your child

Your responsibilities are to:

• Keep your child home when sick unless sick care is provided
• Let the teacher know you are interested in understanding your child’s progress in child care
• Share information about the child and home that may affect behavior
• Set goals with the teacher and share in decisions made about your child’s care
• Discuss problems and concerns with the teacher first
• Show appreciation for teachers
• Continually hone your parenting skills and understanding of children
• Volunteer to assist the teacher in some way
• Follow the child care program’s policies and reread the contract and policy manual regularly
• Read to your child and spend time talking and playing together

Know the laws that protect your children:

Megan’s Law: to provide the public with Internet access to detailed information on registered sex offenders.

Oliver’s Law: to allow parents to review the safety of a child care program or facility.

Source: Community Care Licensing