Our Methodology
California Daycares calculates a safety score and tuition estimate for every licensed childcare facility in the state. This page explains how both work.
Facility Safety Score
Every facility starts with a base score of 100 points. Points are deducted based on the facility's compliance history from official California licensing records.
Penalties
| Event | Penalty |
|---|---|
| Type A citation (serious) | -10 pts |
| Type B citation (minor) | -5 pts |
| Substantiated complaint allegation | -5 pts |
| Any complaint (regardless of outcome) | -2 pts |
Time weighting
Older events matter less. Each penalty is multiplied by a time-based weight depending on how recently the event occurred:
| Event age | Weight |
|---|---|
| Less than 1 year ago | 100% |
| 1 – 3 years ago | 50% |
| 3 – 5 years ago | 25% |
| More than 5 years ago | 0% (ignored) |
Score tiers
Citation totals from licensing records are aggregate counts without individual dates. Their time weight is estimated from the recency profile of the facility's inspection and complaint reports. If no reports exist, citations receive full weight as a conservative default.
Tuition Estimates
Data sources
Our tuition estimates draw from aggregated public records covering licensed child care centers and family child care homes across California's 58 counties. We do not publish per-facility pricing unless the facility owner has verified it through our claim process.
Estimation methodology
County-level medians are calculated from aggregated pricing data for two care categories — child care centers and family child care homes — and three age groups: infant, toddler, and preschool. Historical data spans multiple years to capture long-term trends in each county.
Projections
Future year estimates use a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) based on the most recent seven years of trend data. This method reflects the current pace of tuition change rather than long-run historical averages. Projections are clearly marked as estimates and should be treated as directional, not precise.
Accuracy and limitations
Owner-verified pricing always takes precedence over estimates. Estimates reflect county medians and may not match any specific facility. Geographic variation within a county can be significant. Contact individual facilities for exact current pricing.
Updates
Data is refreshed periodically as new source information becomes available.
Questions? Reach out via the contact page.