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Finding child care and pre-k in your community

The best resource for searching for child care is the state’s COMPASS website for early learning. You can search by city or zipcode, and by age and other specific needs and preferences. Note that some Federally-funded head start sites are NOT included in COMPASS.

Children First has also made a this Google Map of child care locations in the suburban counties. Click on each point for more info. Note that the map shows licensed providers regardless of quality. After August 1, 2017, all programs not enrolled in Keystone STARS were automatically assigned to STAR 1. Programs with 3 or 4 STARS or national accreditation are considered high quality. Head Start locations are included here.

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Summary of Early Care and Education Across the Suburbs

All families want their children to be ready to learn when they start school. Children who start behind their peers often fail to catch up. High quality pre-k gets children ready to learn, teaches them valuable social-emotional skills and cuts special education costs for schools. Although a growing share of suburban families depend on child care because both parents work (70%), many parents cannot afford the cost of good quality care.

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Resources for Bucks County

PCCY Report on Early Care and Education in Bucks County

PCCY finds that only 18% of licensed child care programs in Bucks County are considered high-quality.  For low-income families who receive publicly subsidized care, only 28% attend a high care program.

Click here to download the report.

Pre-K for PA Fact Sheet for Bucks County

Young children get one chance to benefit from high-quality pre-k, and delayed investments mean not only lost opportunities, but higher costs to our children and our society for missing those opportunities.

Click here to download the Pre-K for PA fact sheet for Bucks County.

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Resources for Chester County

PCCY Bottom Line Report on Early Care and Education in Chester County

PCCY’s report finds that in Chester County, only 15% of the 285 licensed child care programs are considered high-quality.  Across the county, only about 6% of children under five attend a highly rated child care program.

Click here to download the report.

Pre-K for PA Fact Sheet for Chester County

Young children get one chance to benefit from high-quality pre-k, and delayed investments mean not only lost opportunities, but higher costs to our children and our society for missing those opportunities.

Click here to download the Pre-K for PA fact sheet for Chester County.

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Resources for Delaware County

PCCY Bottom Line Report on Early Care and Education in Delaware County

PCCY’s report finds that just 4% of children under the age of five in Delaware County attend a high-quality child care program.  The report found that just 24% of low-income families who receive public subsidy for child care can send their child to a high-quality program because of a lack of availability.

Click here to download the report.

Pre-K for PA Fact Sheet for Delaware County

Young children get one chance to benefit from high-quality pre-k, and delayed investments mean not only lost opportunities, but higher costs to our children and our society for missing those opportunities.  Below is a list of the counties with download links for PDF Fact Sheets.

Click here to download the Pre-K for PA fact sheet for Delaware County.

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Resources for Montgomery County

PCCY Bottom Line Report on Early Care and Education in Montgomery County

PCCY’s report finds that only 20% of licensed child care programs in Montgomery County are considered high-quality.  As a result, only 7% of children under five in Montgomery County attend a high quality child care program.

Click here to download the report.

Pre-K for PA Fact Sheet for Montgomery County

Young children get one chance to benefit from high-quality pre-k, and delayed investments mean not only lost opportunities, but higher costs to our children and our society for missing those opportunities.  Below is a list of the counties with download links for PDF Fact Sheets.

Click here to download the Pre-K for PA fact sheet for Montgomery County.

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Related Publications

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REPORTS: The Case for An Ambitious Rebound: 2022 Regional Reports on COVID’s Impact on Children – Sep 2022

Research

REPORTS: Underwater: 2019 Regional Reports on Child Well Being – Apr 2019

Research

REPORT: Uncharted Territory: Implications of Rising Charter Enrollment in the SE PA Suburbs – Mar 2018

Research

REPORTS: Left Out: Regional Reports on Child Well Being – Oct 2016

Research

Tracking Early Care and Education Fact Sheets- Bucks County

Research