Survey cites low child-care standards

ARLINGTON, Va., March 2 (UPI) -- A new national survey says many U.S. states are guilty of poor regulation and oversight of child-care centers.

The report says states often have inadequate safety requirements and low standards for teacher training and employee background checks, The Washington Post said Friday.

The National Association of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies, which sponsored the survey, called for a congressional mandate setting minimum requirements for centers that care for children under 5.

It also urged all states to raise their standards.

Experts say many child-care programs already follow much stricter standards than demanded by their states.