What are my rights as a parent when receiving child care services?

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 can find additional information through the State of California Health and Human Agency.

For Child Care Centers:  LIC 995 (Child Care Centers)

For Family Child Care homes: LIC 995A (Family Child Care Homes)

Please note: if you enroll your child in any licensed child care facility, the facility must provide you with an acknowledgement of parent rights.

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 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