Definition: Percentage of children in Sarasota County that are enrolled in a child program classified as "high quality" according to the Early Learning Coalition performance records, out of all children in care.

Source: Early Learning Coalition, Look for the Stars

2025 Target: 89.1%

In 2015, 81.74% of all Sarasota County children enrolled in child care were enrolled in a child care program classified as "high quality" by the Early Learning Coalition. From 2007 to 2016, the percentage of students enrolled in high quality child care has increased 89%. This figure has been increasing since 2011, at which point only 55% of county children were enrolled in high quality child care. Sarasota County’s “Look for the Stars” program reported at the five year mark that this upward trend generally held true for at-risk children as well, noting that in 2012, 55% of at-risk children were enrolled in high quality health care, a 20% increase from the baseline measure.

Two major factors that contribute to this increase are the increased availability of high quality child care, and increased outreach to parents. According to Look for the Stars: Five Year Review, 77% of the 103 child care centers and family child care homes in the county were participating in the program in 2012, and 73% were rated at or above three stars. Additionally, the number of Gold Seal-accredited child care centers in the county has been growing since 2011. Sarasota County Early Learning Coalition notes that parent awareness of high quality child care programs has been increasing, and that actively maintaining relationships with parents is a marker of sustainable high quality care.

According to a 2013 report, A Governor’s Guide to Early Literacy, increased access to high quality childcare increases likelihood of parental involvement, and children in high quality child care are more likely to succeed in learning to read by the 3rd grade. Children from low-income families are least likely to have access to high quality child care, but stand to gain the most from early access.