Georgia Daycare Quality Ratings May Be Misleading
Parents should verify safety records independently as the state reviews rating policies for centers with violations.
Updated on Oct. 28, 2026 in Child Care
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Should Georgia daycare centers with safety violations lose their high quality ratings?
An Atlanta Journal-Constitution investigation found that 350 Georgia daycare centers kept high quality ratings despite serious safety violations. The Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning is now considering policy changes that would strip quality ratings from facilities with recurring safety issues.
Why it matters
Parents rely on state quality ratings to vet childcare providers, but the current system may provide misleading information when safety records are not clearly linked to status. State officials are working to address this gap to ensure ratings reflect actual child safety.
The investigation identified 350 daycare centers with documented safety infractions out of the 4,200 facilities currently participating in the state's Quality Rated program. While the state invests $400 million annually in childcare, 31% of workers earn below the poverty level at a median hourly wage of $11.44.
The players
Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning
The state agency responsible for overseeing daycare licensing, safety enforcement, and the administration of the Quality Rated program.
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The Georgia news organization that conducted the investigation into the intersection of safety violations and quality ratings.
Excel Preparatory Center
A Lithonia-based daycare facility cited in the investigation for maintaining a three-star rating despite serious safety allegations.
The details
The Quality Rated system, which began in 2013, currently evaluates centers based on various standards that may not always account for serious safety incidents. For example, the Excel Preparatory Center in Lithonia maintained a three-star rating despite documented allegations of child cruelty and employee arrests for battery. State officials are now reviewing whether to tie these ratings directly to safety compliance to better protect children.
Timeline
2013: The state launched the Quality Rated program for daycare facilities.
2016-2026: Investigators examined safety violations across Georgia daycare centers.
2025: The Excel Preparatory Center faced a temporary suspension and subsequent reinstatement.
October 2026: The Atlanta Journal-Constitution published its investigation into daycare safety ratings.
The Home Front
The investigation marks a significant challenge to the credibility of the Georgia Quality Rated program, which has served as the state's primary benchmark for childcare quality since 2013. Regulators are now under pressure to realign the system with actual safety outcomes to ensure that public investment and parental trust remain warranted.
Parents should independently verify any provider's safety record through the Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning portal rather than relying solely on the star rating. Always request a tour and ask specifically about staff-to-child ratios and the current safety compliance status of the facility.
The takeaway
Parents must look beyond simple star ratings when selecting a daycare to ensure the safety environment aligns with family needs. Review the current licensing and enforcement history of any potential center directly through official state records before finalizing enrollment.
Further reading
For more on choosing and vetting facilities, visit the Child Care section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
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Should Georgia daycare centers with safety violations lose their high quality ratings?
