The following lists provide links to national resources about early childhood program standards. These national resources supplement the state-level regulations and standards found in the National Database of Child Care Licensing Regulations.

Resources about Child Care Licensing Requirements

• Protecting Children's Health and Safety Resources [web page], National Center on Early Childhood Quality Assurance (ECQA Center).
  https://childcareta.acf.hhs.gov/topics/protecting-childrens-health-and-safety 
• Research Brief #1: Trends in Child Care Center Licensing Regulations and Policies for 2014 (2015), ECQA Center.
  https://childcareta.acf.hhs.gov/resource/research-brief-1-trends-child-care-center-licensing-regulations-and-policies-2014
• Research Brief #2: Trends in Family Child Care Home Licensing Regulations and Policies for 2014 (2015), ECQA Center.
  https://childcareta.acf.hhs.gov/resource/research-brief-2-trends-family-child-care-home-licensing-regulations-and-policies-2014
• Research Brief #3: Trends in Group Child Care Home Licensing Regulations and Policies for 2014 (2015), ECQA Center.
  https://childcareta.acf.hhs.gov/resource/research-brief-3-trends-group-child-care-home-licensing-regulations-and-policies-2014
   

Resources about Child Care and Development Fund Requirements

• Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) Program, 81 Fed. Reg. 67,438 (Final Rule published Sept. 30, 2016) (to be codified at 45 C.F.R. pt. 98).
  https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2016-09-30/pdf/2016-22986.pdf 
• 42 USC § 9801, Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 2014 (2014), Office of Child Care, Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. 
  https://www.acf.hhs.gov/occ/resource/ccdf-law
• CCDF Reauthorization [web page], Office of Child Care, Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
  https://www.acf.hhs.gov/occ/ccdf-reauthorization
   

Resources about Head Start Program Performance Standards

• Subchapter B — The Administration for Children and Families, Head Start Program, 45 CFR Chapter XIII, Head Start Program Performance Standards (2016), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Office of Head Start. https://eclkc.ohs.acf.hhs.gov/policy/45-cfr-chap-xiii
• 42 USC § 9843a, Staff Qualifications and Development (2015), in Public Law 110-134: Improving Head Start for School Readiness Act of 2007, 110th Congress. 
  https://eclkc.ohs.acf.hhs.gov/policy/head-start-act/sec-648a-staff-qualifications-development
   

Resources about Quality Rating and Improvement System (QRIS) Standards

• QRIS Compendium (2017), BUILD Initiative, Early Learning Challenge Collaborative, and Child Trends.
  https://qualitycompendium.org/
• QRIS Compendium Fact Sheets (2017), ECQA Center
  https://childcareta.acf.hhs.gov/resource/qris-compendium-fact-sheets
• Quality Rating and Improvement System Quality Standards Web Sites (2016), ECQA Center.
  https://childcareta.acf.hhs.gov/resource/qris-quality-standards-web-sites
• QRIS Resource Guide (2014), ECQA Center.
  https://qrisguide.acf.hhs.gov/

Resources about Prekindergarten and Preschool Requirements

• The State of Preschool 2016: State Preschool Yearbook (2017), National Institute for Early Education Research.
  http://nieer.org/state-preschool-yearbooks/yearbook2016
• The State of Preschool 2016 State Profiles (2017), National Institute for Early Education Research.
  http://nieer.org/state-preschool-yearbooks/yearbook2016#profiles
   

National Program Standards and Guidelines

• Caring for Our Children Basics: Health and Safety Foundations for Early Care and Education (2015), Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
  https://www.acf.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/ecd/caring_for_our_children_basics.pdf
• Stepping Stones to Caring for Our Children: National Health and Safety Performance Standards; Guidelines for Early Care and Education Programs, 3rd Edition (2013), American Academy of Pediatrics, American Public Health Association, National Resource Center for Health and Safety in Child Care and Early Education.
  http://nrckids.org/index.cfm/products/stepping-stones-to-caring-for-our-children-3rd-edition-ss3/
• Caring for Our Children: National Health and Safety Performance Standards; Guidelines for Early Care and Education Programs, 3rd edition (2011), American Academy of Pediatrics, American Public Health Association, National Resource Center for Health and Safety in Child Care and Early Education.
  http://cfoc.nrckids.org/
   

Program Standards Crosswalk Tool

• National Program Standards Crosswalk Tool (2016), ECQA Center.
  https://qrisguide.acf.hhs.gov/crosswalk/