Rating the Valley's child care centers

An analysis by The Vindicator of the state-inspection database revealed local licensed child-care centers have been cited nearly 3,200 times during the past two years for violations. Today begins a three-part series examining what was discovered in the state reports.

TODAY

After Jump Start in Youngstown was cited repeatedly for violating licensing rules, including failing to conduct criminal background checks on employees and safety issues, the state revoked its license.

MONDAY

Even administrators of child-care centers that perform well on state inspections say keeping up with regulations – a long list ranging from staff-to-child ratios to toy and cot specifications – is a daily task.

TUESDAY

Though inspection reports for all centers licensed by the state are available online and centers are required to post inspection, many parents of enrolled children say they were not aware of the records.