The demand for quality child care services from low- and middle-income families continues to increase. Government regulation is one means to ensure a basic threshold of high-quality care; however, political support for effective, comprehensive regulation of child care is declining. For example, few states require licensing staff to possess a degree in early childhood education or child development. Other areas of concern include statutory exemptions of child care providers based upon the number of children served within a private home or center and exemptions based upon religious affiliation or other geographic or programmatic factors. Recommendations for improved regulation are: (1) the establishment of educational and training standards for personnel responsible for implementing child care regulation; (2) a commitment to research in child care licensing; (3) creation of a National Center for Excellence for Regulatory Administration in Child Care; and (4) a commitment to increase the visibility of licensing as a part of a comprehensive approach to create high-quality child care in America. (Contains 21 references.) (LPP)