Child Care Licensing
As a parent, you know the importance of selecting the best
child care for your child and your family.
Quality for ME
Quality for ME is a voluntary program.
Ask your provider about enrolling in Quality for ME!
Ask your provider about enrolling in Quality for ME!
Quality for ME was created by the Department of Health and Human Services to provide parents a way to easily identify high quality early childhood and education programs. The rating system is based on four steps, each step leading to higher quality. Step Four is the highest step a program/provider can achieve.
All licensed child care programs in Maine – family child care, child care centers, school age programs – are eligible to participate after being in operation for one year.
Licensing Status
Program Evaluation
Administrative policies & procedures
Family Resources
Learning environment
Parent & Family Involvement
Staff & Professional Development
Child Observation
Quality for ME Steps
Step 1
+ Program meets regulatory standards
Step 2
+ Program meets regulatory standards
+ No substantiated serious licensing violations
in the past year
+ A daily schedule
+ Curriculum plans
+ Observation of children’s interests and skills
+ Regular communication with parents
+ A parent handbook
+ Parent conferences once a year
+ Community and parent resources
+ An employee handbook (if applicable)
+ Providers who take training and education
+ No substantiated serious licensing violations
in the past year
+ A daily schedule
+ Curriculum plans
+ Observation of children’s interests and skills
+ Regular communication with parents
+ A parent handbook
+ Parent conferences once a year
+ Community and parent resources
+ An employee handbook (if applicable)
+ Providers who take training and education
Step 3
+ Program meets regulatory standards
+ No substantiated licensing violations
within the past two years
+ A daily schedule
+ Curriculum plans
+ Observation of children’s interests and skills
recorded three times per year
+ Regular communication with parents
+ A parent handbook
+ Parent conferences twice a year
+ Community and parent resources
+ An employee handbook (if applicable)
+ Parent surveys
+ Regular staff meetings
+ Program evaluation
+ Higher amounts of staff training and education
+ No substantiated licensing violations
within the past two years
+ A daily schedule
+ Curriculum plans
+ Observation of children’s interests and skills
recorded three times per year
+ Regular communication with parents
+ A parent handbook
+ Parent conferences twice a year
+ Community and parent resources
+ An employee handbook (if applicable)
+ Parent surveys
+ Regular staff meetings
+ Program evaluation
+ Higher amounts of staff training and education
Step 4
+ Program meets regulatory standards
+ No substantiated licensing violations
within the past three years
+ A daily schedule
+ Curriculum plans
+ Observation of children’s interests and skills
recorded three times per year
+ Regular communication with parents
+ A parent handbook
+ Parent conferences twice a year
+ Community and parent resources
+ An employee handbook (if applicable)
+ Parent surveys
+ Regular staff meetings
+ Program evaluation
+ National accreditation
+ Highest amounts of staff training and education
+ No substantiated licensing violations
within the past three years
+ A daily schedule
+ Curriculum plans
+ Observation of children’s interests and skills
recorded three times per year
+ Regular communication with parents
+ A parent handbook
+ Parent conferences twice a year
+ Community and parent resources
+ An employee handbook (if applicable)
+ Parent surveys
+ Regular staff meetings
+ Program evaluation
+ National accreditation
+ Highest amounts of staff training and education
Double Child Care Tax Credits
Maine taxpayers who enroll a child in a child care center or home with a Quality Certificate is eligible for a double child care tax credit on their state income tax return!