Free compliance checker
Is your childcare handbook inspection-ready?
Select your state and check off every section your current handbook covers. We'll show you exactly what's missing — and the regulatory citation behind each requirement.
Last updated: April 2026
Researched by the TotReady Research Team
We'll show you exactly which handbook sections your state requires.
How the compliance check works
Every state licensing agency publishes a list of required topics that every childcare parent handbook must cover. This tool maps your self-reported handbook contents against those published lists.
- 1
Select your state
We support 15 states with full regulatory data, including California, Texas, Florida, New York, and Illinois. More states are added regularly.
- 2
Check off what you already have
Each required section is listed with a plain-English description. Check the box if your current handbook covers that topic.
- 3
See your compliance score
We calculate your score instantly and highlight missing sections with the exact regulatory citation — so you know precisely what to tell your inspector.
Frequently asked questions
- What happens if my childcare handbook is missing required sections?
- A licensing inspector can cite your facility for non-compliance, issue a corrective action, or place conditions on your license. Repeated violations can lead to license suspension. Each state has specific required sections — the fastest fix is to add the missing section before your next inspection.
- How often do childcare licensing requirements change?
- Most states update their childcare licensing regulations every 2 to 5 years, though emergency rule changes can happen faster. Common triggers include federal CCDBG reauthorization, state legislative sessions, and licensing agency reviews. TotReady monitors published regulations and updates its database when rules change.
- Do I need a lawyer to write a compliant childcare parent handbook?
- No. Childcare handbook requirements are administrative regulations, not legal documents that require attorney drafting. A compliant handbook follows your state licensing agency's published checklist — it covers required topics like discipline policy, illness exclusion, emergency procedures, and medication administration. TotReady pre-fills every required section with state-specific regulatory language.
Skip the research. Get a done-for-you handbook.
TotReady generates a complete, inspection-ready parent handbook for your state — every required section pre-filled with regulatory language — in under 5 minutes. One-time payment, yours to keep.
Generate my handbook for $29 →15 states supported • Instant download • No subscription