Terms & Disclaimer

Last updated: July 26, 2026

Shortlist (shortlist.guide) is operated by Shortlist LLC, a Washington limited liability company. It is an independent research publication, not an agency or licensed childcare referral service. This page explains what the site is, what it is not, and how your data is handled. For privacy specifically, see the Privacy page.

Research and Commentary Are Opinion

Shortlist does not score, grade, or rank providers. What it publishes is sourced facts alongside one person's observations and research. Any commentary is personal opinion, not professional childcare advice, and should not be treated as such. Reasonable people can and will disagree with it.

Information May Be Wrong or Outdated

Childcare providers change constantly. Staff turn over, prices go up, programs expand or close. While Shortlist makes a good-faith effort to keep listings accurate, there is no guarantee that any piece of information on this site is correct, complete, or current at the time you read it.

A value shows only when Shortlist can name the source it came from, so a blank means Shortlist has not verified that fact — never that the provider lacks it. Every published value carries the date it was last checked against that source. How each field is sourced and how often it is refreshed is documented on the Methodology page.

Before making any childcare decision, parents should:

• Contact providers directly to verify pricing, availability, and program details
• Check your state's childcare licensing authority for current licensing status and inspection history (e.g., DCYF in Washington, CDEC in Colorado, DCDEE in North Carolina, CDSS in California)
• Tour the facility in person
• Do their own due diligence

Inspection Data

Where inspection and complaint records are shown on Shortlist — currently Seattle (Washington DCYF), Austin (Texas HHSC), and the Bay Area (California CDSS) — they are sourced from publicly available state licensing data. This data may not reflect the most recent inspections, and Shortlist has no control over when state agencies publish updates. Always check your state's licensing authority directly for the latest information.

No Affiliation with Providers

Shortlist has no affiliation with, endorsement from, or sponsorship arrangement with any childcare provider listed on this site. No provider has paid for placement, for a better position in the ledger, or for favorable treatment. Listings exist because the provider is licensed and operates in a covered area.

No Liability

Shortlist is not a substitute for a parent's own research, judgment, and decision-making. By using this site, you acknowledge that Shortlist is not liable for any decisions made based on information published here. Use the site as a starting point, not a final answer.

Access

• The full provider database is free to browse — no account or payment required
• Optional sign-in (email only) enables saved providers and cross-device sync

Privacy

The full privacy policy lives on a separate page. The short version: email is collected for sign-in only, your data is never sold or shared with third parties, and there are no ad networks or trackers that monetize visitor data. See Privacy

Copyright

All research, commentary, and original writing on Shortlist are original work and are protected by copyright. You are welcome to link to the site, but do not reproduce or republish content without permission.

Governing law

These terms are governed by the laws of the State of Washington, without regard to its conflict-of-laws principles. Any dispute arising from or relating to the use of Shortlist will be brought in the state or federal courts located in King County, Washington.

Data Sources

Shortlist compiles provider information from multiple public sources. No single source is guaranteed to be complete or current. Sources include:

• State licensing databases — Washington DCYF, Colorado CDEC, North Carolina DCDEE, Texas HHSC, California CDSS, and Missouri DESE/DHSS. Used for licensing status, capacity, category, and inspection history.
• State quality rating systems — Colorado Shines, Washington Early Achievers. Used for state-administered quality ratings where available.
• Accreditation directories — NAEYC, American Montessori Society. Used to verify accreditation claims.
• Provider websites — Individual provider websites are scraped for program details including pricing, age ranges, ratios, meals, schedules, teaching philosophy, and enrollment status.
• Job posting sites — Indeed listings, provider careers pages, and IRS Form 990s for nonprofits. Used for teacher pay data sourced from real job postings with explicit dollar amounts.
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS). Metro-area median hourly wages for Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education (SOC 25-2011), May 2023 release, are used as the benchmark for the “above/below median” context displayed on teacher pay data.
• Provider-confirmed data — Some providers update their own listings directly through the Shortlist provider dashboard.

Every data point on Shortlist traces to one of the sources above. Where a value cannot be sourced, it is left blank rather than estimated. If you believe any information is incorrect, email diana@shortlist.guide and it will be reviewed promptly.

Questions

If anything here is unclear, email diana@shortlist.guide.