Arizona Child Care Grants, Programs and Services
Whether you are looking to start a child care program in Arizona or are a seasoned owner, there are many resources available to help fund your programs. Each state has a primary agency or organization responsible for subsidizing child care programs. They partner with local child care resource and referral (CCR&R) agencies and shared services organizations to raise awareness of grant opportunities and support the distribution of funding. They also provide additional programs and services to help you run your business.
Arizona Child Care Grants, Programs and Services
Primary State Agency (Child Care Development Fund)
This primary agency oversees early care and education programs and services in Arizona, and is responsible for subsidizing child care programs through federal and state grants. Visit the Arizona Department of Economic Security.
Child Care Resource and Referral (CCR&R Agency)
Child Care Resource & Referral agencies (CCR&Rs) are another great resource for assisting child care providers with available grants and funding and other resources. Find your local CCR&R.
Shared Services Organizations and NAEYC Regional Affiliates
The community of ECE leaders working to provide services to support sustainable child care programs is growing all the time. Reach out to your local organizations to learn more about their services. Visit Arizona Association for the Education of Young Children (AZ Toolkit Org) to learn more.
Champions for Mixed Delivery Monthly Call
The Early Care and Education Consortium (ECEC) and National Child Care Association (NCCA) and are partnering to offer Champions of Mixed Delivery, a series of monthly check-in calls to share and receive updates about key proposals, coordinate messaging and talking points and share resources for advocacy. View dates and register for a call here.
Arizona Child Care Licensing Requirements
Learn more about Arizona early learning standards: Arizona Department of Education
Learn more about child care licensing requirements in Arizona: Arizona Department of Health Services
Arizona Early Childhood Education Quality Ratings, Curriculum and Assessments
Quality Rating and Improvement Systems (QRIS)
Child care providers earn a rating when they meet quality standards. Many states require these quality standards in order to receive grants and additional funding. View more details at Quality First.
State-Aligned Curriculum
Procare Solutions is partnering with Learning Beyond Paper to provide curriculum to our customers. No state approval is required, but you can be confident knowing your curriculum aligns to your state standards by implementing Procare Early Learning Powered by Learning Beyond Paper. This 100% digital curriculum addresses the needs of child care centers, daycares, preschools and early learning teachers. The curriculum provides 52 weeks of lesson plans that include learning tailored to seasons.
Assessments
Simplify the assessment process and meet state standards with a unique early childhood assessment framework that makes clarity a key strength of your child care center’s assessments and communications.
Average Cost of Child Care in Arizona
Understanding the cost of child care in Arizona is important for both parents and child care providers.
Annual Child Care Costs in Arizona
In Arizona, annual child care costs are approximately $14,040.
Child Care Affordability in Arizona
Affordable child care remains inaccessible for the lowest-earning workers in the Grand Canyon State. A married couple with children spends approximately 14% on child care costs.
More Information on Arizona Child Care
Arizona’s population grew by 2.88% in 2020, making it one of the fastest-growing states by population for that year. Growth for Arizona means new opportunities to create communities with affordable and accessible child care for families.
View child care costs in other states.
Arizona Professional Development Training Requirements
In Arizona, it is required that early childhood educators complete 18 hours of professional development training annually from date of hire. Training hours and continuing education units (CEUs) are documented in each person’s professional development record in the Arizona Early Childhood Workforce Registry. Be sure to create and manage your registry profile to track and document your training hours to comply with Arizona state licensing requirements for ECE professionals. Visit the National Database of Child Care Regulations or Arizona Department of Education to find licensing regulations and requirements in your state.
Bertelsen Education, a Procare Solutions Company provides IACET-accredited courses that meet state licensing requirements. Visit BertelsenEducation.com to purchase.
Professional Development Resources
Professional development programs are designed to encourage, support and recognize early childhood professionals seeking to expand their skills to raise the quality of their programs. View a list of professional development resources for child care providers here.