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  Many states, including California, Texas and North Carolina have procedures for daycare providers to follow in order to get a license to provide such care. State regulation of these licensed daycare providers aims at making them accountable for providing care that meets some basic standards. In North Carolina and Texas, the state regulates licensed daycare providers in matters such as the rules for parental visitations and also in the area of child abuse. Check out the laws in your own state.
  
  

Discipline

• North Carolina law requires licensed childcare providers to have a written policy on discipline that they should discuss with parents. The care providers should discuss any changes in their disciplinary policy with parents before it goes into effect. The North Carolina licensed daycare provider laws prohibit physical punishment of any sort, but make an exception for religious-sponsored programs that notify the state that physical punishment is part of their religious training.
  
  In California, regulations state that children may not be subjected to corporal punishment or mental abuse, including humiliation. Also, they may not be punished by withholding food or sleep.
  
  According to the Texas Administrative Code, the discipline must be individualized and consistent for each child, appropriate to the child's level of understanding, must be positive, encourages self esteem and self-control and directs the child toward acceptable behavior. No harsh or cruel treatment is allowed.
  
  

Parental Rights

• Parents in North Carolina have certain rights in regards to interaction with the daycare provider. Licensed daycare providers allow parents to enter the daycare facility anytime their child is inside. Daycare providers are supposed to display their license in a prominent place so parents can see it.
  
  In Texas and California, parents have the right to access a childcare facility anytime during its working hours and review the center's licensing and any complaints against the center over the past three years.
  
  

Neglect and Abuse

• Abuse relates to physical or emotional harm done to a child. Neglect refers to a situation in which a child does not get adequate care, supervision or discipline. The Texas child care law requires that the licensing authorities check a central registry before awarding a child care facility license to make sure the person or employee at the facility applying for the license is not listed as having abused or neglected a child.
  
  In North Carolina, any person who suspects that a childcare facility is abusing or neglecting a child can report this to a North Carolina county department of social services. Operators of childcare facilities in North Carolina should inform parents of children enrolled in the program in writing if the state has upheld any allegations of neglect or abuse against the childcare facility. They also should inform parents if the state has taken any administrative action against the facility.
  
  In California, any person who willfully harms a child or inflicts cruel corporal punishment is guilty of a felony. To report abuse taking place in a day care facility, suspected or otherwise, report it to the police and the Department of Social Services.