How we review daycares and write articles.

DaycareSquare exists to help parents find daycare they can trust. That mission only works if the editorial is genuinely independent. This page documents how we get there: the ranking math, the source rules, and the things we will not do for money.

1. The ranking algorithm

Every city, neighborhood, and category page displays daycares in an editorial ranking. The ranking is calculated by a single algorithm that runs the same way for every listing, free or paid. The inputs are public, weighted, and listed below.

Programs are sorted by editorial score. Within one point of a tie, alphabetical order is used. Premium tiers do not appear in the editorial score; they buy clearly labeled "Featured" placements above or alongside the editorial list. The editorial list itself is determined solely by the score above.

2. Fact-checking

Every daycare profile is cross-checked against the state licensing database before publication. We verify license number, license status, capacity, and age range served. We re-verify the entire profile once per year, and any time a parent or operator flags a change.

Editorial articles — pillar pages, blog posts, and guides — are fact-checked against the source listed in the body. Statistics older than three years are removed unless they remain the most current available; in that case, the date is shown next to the statistic.

3. Cost data updates

Cost figures on this site come from four source categories: federal data (Bureau of Labor Statistics, Department of Labor Women's Bureau), state surveys (state child care resource and referral agencies), operator submissions (verified against published rate sheets where available), and Child Care Aware of America's annual report.

We publish ranges, never single figures, because the spread inside any ZIP code is wide. Each cost figure is tagged with its source and the month it was last refreshed. We refresh state-level cost ranges quarterly and city-level ranges twice a year.

4. Reviews and editorial features

Editorial reviews are long-form profiles written by our team. They are included in Pro and Premium Plus tiers (one and four per year, respectively) and are also commissioned independently for programs of editorial interest, regardless of tier.

The process: our writer reads the existing profile, requests a 30-minute walkthrough call, and (with the operator's permission) speaks with 2 to 4 enrolled families. The piece is shared with the operator before publication for factual corrections only — we do not change tone, structure, or critical observations based on operator feedback.

5. Parent reviews

Parent reviews are tied to verified accounts. We require a real connection to the program (current or former enrollment, confirmed through our intake). The review is published with a star rating (1 to 5), a short text, and the year the family attended.

We do not delete negative reviews because a provider objects. We will remove a review if it violates our policy (personally identifying information about staff or children, hate speech, factual claims that cannot be substantiated, attempts to extort the operator). We disclose the removal rate on this page; the rolling 12-month removal rate as of April 2026 is approximately 3 to 5%.

6. Source policy

Every cost or statistic claim cites a source. Approved sources include:

• Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and Census Bureau data series.
• Child Care Aware of America annual reports and state fact sheets.
• State child care licensing and subsidy agencies.
• NAEYC, NECPA, NAFCC, AMI, AMS, and AWSNA accreditation registries.
• Economic Policy Institute (EPI) state child care cost reports.
• Peer-reviewed academic research, where applicable.

We do not cite operator marketing copy as a statistic. We do not cite Wikipedia. We do not cite ourselves.

7. Conflict of interest

Writers and editors must disclose any financial relationship, family relationship, or ownership stake in any daycare program before contributing to coverage of that program or its competitors. Disclosed conflicts result in reassignment of the article. We maintain an internal disclosure log; redacted versions are available on request.

Our display advertising network (Mediavine) does not have any editorial influence on the site. We do not accept gifts from operators above a $25 nominal value (a tour-day coffee is fine; a tablet is not). Editorial reviews are never paid for as a single transaction; they are bundled into the Pro and Premium Plus tiers and the rate is published.

8. Sponsored labels

Anything paid is labeled. "Featured" cards on city pages, "Top-3 placement" banners, and editorial reviews bundled into a Pro/Premium Plus tier are all labeled as such. Advertisements served through Mediavine are labeled "Advertisement". Affiliate links in articles are marked with a small "affiliate" badge.

If you ever spot something that looks paid but is not labeled, tell us — we treat it as a P0 bug.

9. Corrections

Mistakes happen. When we publish one, we correct it on the same page, mark the correction at the bottom with the date, and (for substantive errors) add it to our public corrections log. A correction never silently rewrites a published page.

To request a correction, email corrections@daycaresquare.com with a link to the page and the specific claim you are challenging. We aim to respond within five business days.

10. Who writes for us

Our editorial team is a small group of staff editors plus a network of part-time contributors. Most contributors are current or former early-childhood educators, licensed providers, or parent reporters with previous newsroom experience. Every contributor is required to read and sign these standards before publishing.

Authorship is disclosed on every article. Articles co-written with operators (rare; only for pieces explicitly framed as "from an operator's perspective") are clearly co-bylined.