Excerpts from the document:

Education policy makers identify access to quality pre-Kindergarten programs as a critical step in early childhood development. While most agree on access, definitions of quality vary widely. A new study by the National Center for Early Development & Learning (NCEDL) finds that families define quality in broader terms than educators, researchers and policymakers.

The NCEDL study examined how parents of children in publicly funded pre-
Kindergarten defined quality and selected programs. In addition to placing a high value on education, families identified three factors not usually included in educational research or professional discussions of program quality&emdash; comprehensive service provisions (e.g., meals), convenient location, and homeschool collaboration.

Most families surveyed had only one pre-K program to select from. Those with more options were typically forced to base their decision on life circumstances rather than on perceived quality of care.