Chevy Chase is small suburb with fewer than 10,000 people located in Montgomery County, Maryland. There are only 19 licensed child care programs in town, most of which are daycare centers (17 center-based preschools or daycares, for only 2 home-based daycares). It is mainly a white-collar town and residents are wealthy relative to Maryland and the nation with a median household income of $170,000. Therefore, the cost of care is also fairly high with the average full-time tuition for infants being $15,860 per year in a child care center (almost identical to the cost of care for preschoolers, also over $15,000 per year for full-time care for 4-year-old children). To find out the average cost of daycare in your zip code, click here to use our daycare cost calculator. The tree-lined streets and quiet neighborhood of Chevy Chase, MD provide a peaceful escape and serene community. The cost of child care is high particularly in the 17 child care centers in the city. While home daycares are less expensive options, there are only two licensed child care homes available. Full-time infant care costs $195 per week in Homes and $305 in Centers. Care for older children costs less, $160 per week in Homes and $295 in Centers. Two bilingual or language immersion daycares offer developmentally appropriate lessons and activities in a foreign language, and there are 3 licensed child care facilities accepting child care subsidy vouchers. These allow low-income families to have access in high quality early learning programs. Eligibility criteria include employment, participating in an approved training program that or being a recipient of Temporary Cash Assistance (TCA) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI). Proof of identity of the child and all other members of the household is also required. Child care providers in Chevy Chase adhere to Maryland state child care laws. The Office of Child Care (OCC) does not regulate informal child care (e.g. from a friend of the child's parent who may provide occasional babysitting). However, OCC regulates all formal child care facilities to ensure that children are provided with a safe and nurturing environment. Licensed providers are required to meet minimum requirements on health, safety and zoning, and undergo state and federal background checks. A face-to-face orientation is also mandatory for all applicants. OCC examines child abuse and neglect registry and does not allow registered offenders to work or have access in the child care facilities. The OCC conducts unannounced routine monitoring and inspection at least once a year to ensure that all child care facilities comply with the standards. Inspection reports include the condition of facilities, services, and status of complaints if there are any. Several child care programs and preschools in Chevy Chase are NAEYC accredited. NAEYC provides continuous support for improving the quality of early learning programs. Programs are evaluated based on standards which are grouped into ten areas: 1. The relationship between all children and adults to encourage positive interaction as a community member;<br>2. A well planned and effective curriculum that fosters children's learning and development;<br>3. An effective and appropriate teaching approach that supports positive learning and development;<br>4. A variety of assessments on a child's development which is used to improve the program and curriculum;<br>5. The program promotes nutrition and healthy choices for better quality of life and learning;<br>6. Employment and support of teachers and caregivers with qualifications in child development and early childhood education who are expected to create a high-quality learning environment.<br>7. Collaborative relationships with each child's family to foster development in all settings<br>8. Connecting families with agencies and institutions in the community that are necessary for children's health, development and learning.<br>9. Safe and quality design and maintenance of indoor and outdoor physical environment appropriate for activities and services.<br>10. Effective implementation of policies, procedures, and systems that support effective leadership and management.