What must child care facilities comply with in order to operate legally?

Child care facilities must comply with licensing standards to operate legally. Licensing standards are comprehensive regulations set forth by governing bodies to ensure the health, safety, and well-being of children in care. These standards often cover a wide range of criteria, including staff qualifications, staff-child ratios, facility safety, health requirements, and program quality. Meeting these standards is crucial as it not only legitimizes the operation of a child care facility but also instills confidence in parents regarding the care their children will receive.

In contrast, while health codes and local zoning laws are important regulations, they do not encompass the full spectrum of what is required for a facility to be licensed. Compliance with just health codes or zoning laws alone does not ensure that a facility meets the broader criteria necessary to provide child care safely and effectively. Therefore, the most accurate requirement for legal operation is adherence to licensing standards.