🌟 Truth in Daycare: Why Parents Deserve Full Disclosure!

When you’re choosing a daycare, you assume it will protect your child—even in worst-case scenarios. But did you know many daycares in Georgia aren’t required to carry liability insurance, and worse, many don’t have to proactively tell you?

That’s where transparency comes in — a principle borrowed from Truth in Advertising — but applied to daycare. Because when we leave our children in someone else’s care, we deserve to know exactly what we’re signing up for.

⚖️ What “Truth in Daycare” Means

• Just like advertising rules demand that businesses tell the whole truth (or at least not mislead) about their services, daycares must be honest with parents about their coverage.

• “Truth in Daycare” means daycares should openly disclose whether they carry liability insurance, what kind, and how much. Parents should not have to dig through fine print to find it.

• Anything less is misleading by omission — dangerous when it involves children’s safety.

🧩 How Juan’s Law Fits In

After the tragic accident involving your son Juan, you fought to change the system. In Georgia, Juan’s Law was passed to require child care centers to disclose whether or not they carry liability insurance. If a center does not carry insurance, they must:

1. Post notice in a conspicuous place

2. Inform each parent or guardian in writing when enrolling a child

3. Use clear signage (with text at least ½ inch tall) that alerts parents of “no coverage.”

This ensures no parent is left in the dark.(Kevin Patrick Law)

But here’s the issue: Because daycares are not required by law to have insurance in Georgia, many choose to go uninsured — as legal, but risky.(Council & Associates LLC)

So Juan’s Law doesn’t mandate coverage — it mandates full disclosure. That transparency lets parents make safer choices.

🧠 Why It Matters

• If a child is injured at a daycare that has no liability coverage, the facility may have little to no means to pay for medical costs or damages.

• Even if parents try to sue, if the daycare has little assets and no insurance, recovery may be non-existent.

• Many Georgia daycares legally rely on small enrollment fees without factoring in risk.(Council & Associates LLC)

• Nationally, many early childhood programs say they do maintain liability insurance, but rising costs are pushing some to drop coverage(NAEYC)

Essentially: disclosure gives you knowledge. Coverage gives you protection. You deserve both.

✅ Parent’s Checklist — How to Find a Safe Daycare

Use this checklist whenever you visit or interview a daycare:

✅ Question	ℹ Why It Matters
Does this daycare carry liability insurance?	If yes → request proof (certificate). If no → you should know and decide whether to proceed.
Can you show me the written disclosure / signage about “no insurance”?	Under Juan’s Law, they must post and provide written notice if uninsured.
What is your staff-to-child ratio?	Overcrowded environments increase accidents and reduce supervision.
What are your safety and emergency protocols?	Fire drills, injury response, locking doors — all critical.
Are staff background-checked & certified?	Ensures all adults are vetted before interacting with children.
Are health, hygiene & sanitation protocols followed?	Prevents illness and keeps environment safe.
Do you allow unannounced parent visits at any time?	Transparency matters — you should be welcome to check on your child.
What’s your discipline policy & staff training?	You deserve clarity on how behavior is managed and what training staff receive.
How long have you been in business & what’s your turnover rate?	Facilities with high staff turnover may have inconsistencies in care.

Keep a printed copy of this when you visit daycares so you don’t forget.

📝 Final Thoughts

“Truth in Daycare” isn’t just a slogan — it’s a necessity. Thanks to Juan’s Law, parents in Georgia now have legal rights to that transparency. But disclosure without accountability is still a risk.

Armed with knowledge, clear questions, and our checklist, you can choose a daycare that doesn’t just promise safety — that shows it.