As a father of three young children, I encourage the Child Day Care Council to support the strengthening of staff qualifications and reducing staff to child ratios in licensed child care centers. These factors are the most significant ones in determining the quality of care that our children receive. While additional costs may be involved in meeting these requirements, the importance of quality care for our youngest children warrants these changes. I also appreciate the Council's efforts to provide for children's health and safety, and support practical steps to improve the current regulations. At the same time, I encourage the Council to offer providers as much flexibility as possible in the areas of space requirements and physical environment. Overly burdensome regulations that do not directly address the primary indicators of quality care can increase costs to families without corresponding benefits to children. Overall, improved standards for child care centers in Virginia, especially regarding the qualifications of staff and the number of adults to children, will positively impact our children at the most critical time in their development. Jon Nafziger