Parents Weigh Day-Care Options Online

Poli Marinova picks up her 13-month-old son, Victor, from Tiny Tots Playroom in Alexandria. In Virginia, parents can view inspection reports of day-care providers online. (By Marvin Joseph -- The Washington Post)
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Tracy Frost, 34, a mother in Alexandria, used the online system when she was first shopping for day care -- and ruled out several possible caregivers after reading about their infractions. "Some of them seemed too serious or very repetitive," she recalled.

When she did choose a provider, she discussed with her the kinds of problems the woman had been cited for before signing her child up. Even now, with her daughter happily situated with a new caregiver, "I go back periodically and check it," Frost said.

Some parents point out that the online system is especially useful because it allows them to check on safety without making an issue of it. The day-care world is a competitive place, they say, with years-long waiting lists at some places and a premium on spots for infants.

Julie Bindeman Belgard, 30, of Rockville said that when she was expecting her first child, she found a day-care provider she liked, and they agreed that her baby would get a spot. But Belgard also let her know she wanted to check the provider's record with the state, which took three to four weeks. When she contacted the provider again, her son's spot was gone.

"My feeling was that she was a little put off by the background check," Belgard said.

Among child-care providers, reaction to the online system has been mixed.

Jim Kendzel, executive director of the National Child Care Association, which represents licensed centers, said the group does not oppose online records posting but urges states to also post responses from providers and a weighting factor "so the parent understands what is critical and what isn't."

"We totally believe in transparency for the parent, but if they're going to put the information online, let them see the whole picture," Kendzel said.

Monica Jackson, president of the Virginia Alliance of Family Child Care Associations, described the online system as "just another opportunity for us to do the best that we can" and noted that providers already post their most recent inspection reports in their day-care homes. "It's tying in very well with the states trying to push programs to support children's development," she said.

Child-care experts say that many parents are surprisingly uninformed about how child-care is monitored. Twenty-one states inspect home-based day-care operations less than once a year -- or not at all, Smith said. A majority of states allow home day-care providers to go without a license, and still others allow such businesses to open before an inspector checks the premises, Smith said.

Until the online system is working in Maryland -- later this year or early next -- parents must write letters to request information about complaints and violations. In Montgomery County, several parents said they were told to file Freedom of Information Act requests.

In the District, the system is expected to be in place before Oct. 1, officials said. In the meantime, parents can inquire about inspections and complaints by telephone, letter or in person at the D.C. Health Regulation and Licensing Administration office.

Jeanne Woodbridge, 38, of Gaithersburg said the new systems will be a welcome improvement. She recalled that when she searched for child care in 2004, it seemed impractical and cumbersome to write letters for records about potential providers.

An online system, she said, "would give you a peace of mind about where you're placing your child and where they're going to be for seven, eight or nine hours a day."