Setting the bar higher

Accreditation does not guarantee a center won't have problems. Two of the centers on this list — Pima Community College's Downtown Campus Child Development Center and Satori — were fined last year for violations of state rules.

But accreditation reflects a well-trained staff and strong educational programs that help children get off to a good start.

It also costs money — more than many good centers can afford. Most centers pay from $1,275 to $1,950 for an initial review from the National Association for the Education of Young Children.

The National Association of Child Care Professionals and the National Association for the Education of Young Children are the major accrediting organizations for child-care centers in Tucson. Learn more about them at www.naccp.org and www.naeyc.org

National Association of Child Care Professionals' National Accrediting Commission

1. Children's Choice Early Learning Center 3025 N. Winstel Blvd., 327-1929

2. Cozy Casa Day Care & Preschool 4535 N. Jay Ave., 293-7663

3. Creative Beginnings Preschool 2690 N. First Ave., 620-1284

4. Desert Skies Preschool 7730 N. Oracle Road, 297-6121

5. Kids First Preschool 5316 E. Pima St., 795-0990

6. Kids Forever Learning Center 5235 E. Pima St., 326-5589

7. Kids Forever Learning Center 1575 E. 36th St., 623-7789

8. Kids Forever Learning Center 216 E. Prince Road, 888-1415

9. Kids Forever Learning Center 3401 E. Ajo Way, 623-8392

10. Kids Village Preschool 1321 N. Sixth Ave., 882-7951

11. Little Angels Learning Centers 4826 E. Pima St., 795-8829

12. Little Angels Learning Centers 4114 E. Brown Way, 795-4413

13. Little Angels Learning Centers 1613 N. Columbus Blvd., 322-0607

14. Outer Limits School 3472 E. Fort Lowell Road, 327-0844

15. Small World 1 Preschool 3637 E. Third St.< 326-1035

16. Small World 2 Preschool 8720 E. Speedway, 296-0020

National Association for the Education of Young Children

17. Acacia Preschool 12955 E. Colossal Cave Road, 762-2268

18. Adventure School 5757 E. Pima St., 296-0656

19. Arizona State Schools for the Deaf and the Blind —Preschool 1200 W. Speedway, 770-3700

20. Blake Foundation — Children's Achievement Center 330 N. Commerce Park Loop, Suite 100, 325-6495

21. Carondelet Casita Jose 6575 E. Carondelet Drive, 873-3987

22. Carondelet Casita Maria 1820 W. St. Mary's Road, 873-6170

23. Casa Niños School of Montessori Inc. 1 W. Orange Grove Road, 297-3898

24. Casa Niños School of Montessori Inc. 8655 E. Broadway, 751-1454

25. Catalina Foothills School District — Valley View Preschool 5281 N. Valley View Road, 577-5314

26. Cavett Elementary School Parent and Child Education (PACE) 2120 E. Naco Vista Drive, 225-3205 or 225-3275

27. Cavett Head Start 2125 E. Poquita Vista, 382-1501

28. Child & Family Resources Children's Center 2800 E. Broadway, 321-3823

29. Community Extension Programs — Donaldson Preschool 2040 W. Omar Drive, 696-6173

30. Coronado Head Start 3401 E. Wilds Road, Phone number not available

31. Cottonwood Preschool and Extended Care 9950 E. Rees Loop, 762-2657

32. Davidson Elementary School Parent and Child Education (PACE) 3950 E. Paradise Falls Drive, 225-3205 or 225-3275

33. Davis-Monthan Child Development Center 5335 E. Comanche St., 228-3336

34. Desert Spring Children's Center 740 E. Speedway, 620-1575

35. Desert Willow Preschool and Extended Care 9400 E. Esmond Loop, 762-2353

36. Desert Winds Preschool 12675 W. Rudasill, 616-4037

37. Erickson Head Start 3333 S. Mann Ave., 745-1388

38. Erickson Elementary School Parent and Child Education (PACE) 6750 E. Stella Road, 225-3205 or 225-3275

39. Finley Child Development Center 5305 E. Comanche St., 228-6463

40. Flowing Wells Early Childhood Center 1444 W. Prince Road, 696-8910

41. Gentle Hands Center for Children 1410 E. Adelaide Drive, 320-0846

42. Henry Ryan Early Learning Center 1665 S. La Cholla Blvd., 882-3872

43. Hollinger Elementary School Parent and Child Education (PACE) 150 W. Ajo Way, 225-3205 or 225-3275

44. Homer Davis Head Start 4258 N. Romero Road, 696-0303

45. Kellond Community School 6606 E. Lehigh Drive, 584-5164

46. KinderCare Learning Centers 10455 N. La Cañada Drive, 742-6298

47. KinderCare Learning Centers 1621 E. First St., 795-4768

48. KinderCare Learning Centers 1802 E. Irvington Road, 294-9757

49. Liberty Head Start 5495 S. Liberty Ave., 573-5824

50. Los Amigos Elementary School Steps 4 Success 2200 E. Drexel Road, 545-3267

51. Los Niños Bonitos Head Start/Mission Manor Head Start 6009 S. Santa Clara Ave., 573-0456

52. Manzo Elementary School Parent and Child Education (PACE) 855 N. Melrose Ave., 225-3205 or 225-3275

53. Menlo Park Elementary School Parent and Child Education (PACE) 1100 W. Fresno St., 225-3205 or 225-3275

54. Mesquite Preschool 9455 E. Rita Road, 762-2184

55. Mission View Elementary School Parent and Child Education (PACE) 2600 S. Eighth Ave., 225-3205 or 225-3275

56. Myers/Ganoung Elementary School Parent and Child Education (PACE) 5000 E. Andrew St., 225-3205 or 225-3275

57. Nosotros El Rio Bilingual Day Care 1390 W. Speedway, 623-5912

58. Ochoa Elementary School Parent and Child Education (PACE) 101 W. 25th St., 225-3205 or 225-3275

59. Ocotillo Preschool Special Education Program 5702 S. Campbell Ave., 545-3670

60. Olga and Bob Strauss Center for Early Childhood Education 225 N. Country Club Road, 325-0390

61. Pima Community College — Desert Vista Child Development Center 5901 S. Calle Santa Cruz, 206-5203

62. Pima Community College — Downtown Campus Child Development Center 1255 N. Stone Ave., 206-7136 *The state also took an enforcement action against this center.

63. Pima Community College — West Campus Child Development Center 2202 W. Anklam Road, 206-6729

64. Pio Decimo Center 848 S. Seventh Ave., 622-2801

65. Prince Head Start 90 E. King Road, 408-9129

66. Pueblo Gardens Elementary School Parent and Child Education (PACE) 2210 E. 33rd St., 225-3205 or 225-3275

67. Pusch Ridge Preschool and Kindergarten 10361 N. Oracle Road, 797-7527

68. Quail Run Preschool 4600 W. Cortaro Farms Road, 579-4733

69. Richey Elementary School Parent and Child Education (PACE) 2209 N. 15th Ave., 225-3205 or 225-3275

70. Rogers Elementary School Parent and Child Education (PACE) 6000 E. 15th St., 225-3205 or 225-3275

71. Rose Elementary School Parent and Child Education (PACE) 710 W. Michigan Drive, 225-3205 or 225-3275

72. St. Alban's Preschool and Kindergarten 3738 N. Old Sabino Canyon Road, 296-2043

73. St. Mark's Preschool & Kindergarten 3809 E. Third St., 325-1510

74. Santa Rosa Child Development Center 1065 S. 10th Ave., 382-1500

75. Satori School 3801 N. First Ave., 887-4003 * The state also took an enforcement action against this center.

76. Second Street Children's School 2430 E. Second St., 327-2124

77. Sonshine Preschool 551 N. Camino Seco, 885-1045

78. Southside Head Start 317 W. 23rd St., 622-4552

79. Southwest Education Center Parent and Child Education (PACE) 6855 S. Mark Road, 225-3205 or 225-3275

80. Southwest Resource Center Head Start 6855 S. Mark Road, 382-1502

81. Steps 4 Success — Drexel Preschool 801 E. Drexel Road, 545-2720

82. Steps 4 Success — Esperanza Preschool 2353 E. Bantam Road, 545-2971

83. Summit View Head Start 10170 S. Epperson Lane, 573-7780

84. The Sandbox Early Childhood Learning Center 2701 and 2719 N. Swan Road, 795-9595

85. Tucson Community School 2109 E. Hedrick Drive, 326-9212

86. Tucson Jewish Community Center Early Childhood Education 3800 E. River Road, 299-3000

87. Tucson Nursery School Infant Toddler Center 2150 E. Silvosa St., 624-2273

88. Tully Accelerated Elementary Magnet School Parent and Child Education (PACE) and Playgroup 1701 W. El Rio Drive, 225-3205 or 225-3275

89. Van Buskirk Elementary School Parent and Child Education (PACE) 725 E. Fair St., 225-3205 or 225-3275

90. Wings on Words Preschool 202 E. Speedway, 628-1659

91. Wright Elementary School Parent and Child Education (PACE) 4311 E. Linden St., 225-3205 or 225-3275

92. Young Explorers School 1201 S. Avenida Sirio, 747-1816