Preschool Tour Checklist for Arizona Families

Before the visit: make the comparison fair

Tell each program the same age group, days, hours, start date, and schedule you need. Ask for current written policies and a tuition quote for that exact schedule. If a school cannot answer a question during the visit, record who will follow up and when instead of filling the blank with an assumption.

• Confirm the campus address, visit time, who will meet you, and whether children will be present.
• Write down your must-haves: commute, hours, schedule, language or communication needs, and any support or accommodation to discuss.
• Bring the tuition-comparison prompts from “What Preschool Tuition May Include.”
• Look up the campus in ADHS AZ Care Check before or after the visit; the inspection-record guide explains how to match the location and read documents.

During the tour: watch the everyday handoffs

Observe the rooms and routines the program is willing to show you. Ask who is responsible for the group at different times of day, what happens when staff change, and how the school shares routine updates with families. Do not assume a brief tour represents every classroom, staffing arrangement, or part of the day.

• How are arrivals, sign-in, authorized pickup, late pickup, and a change to the pickup plan handled?
• Who supervises the classroom during arrival, transitions, outdoor time, breaks, and staff substitutions?
• How are meals, snacks, rest, toileting, outdoor play, and transitions organized for this age group?
• How does the program communicate a schedule change, incident, illness, or urgent concern to a family?
• What is the process for discussing allergies, medication, accessibility, language, or other individual needs?
• Where can I see the current license and public survey/inspection record for this campus?
• How can a family raise a concern, and who is the first contact?

Before you leave: ask about the decision and start-up

• What steps, documents, deadlines, and fees are required to apply or enroll?
• What is the earliest date a space could be available, and how will the program confirm it?
• Can I take the family handbook, current calendar, pickup rules, emergency procedures, and written fee schedule?
• Who should I contact with follow-up questions, and when should I expect a response?

Compare notes after the tour

Compare specific answers and documents, not just first impressions. Separate what you observed from what a staff member told you, and mark unanswered items as “follow up” rather than yes or no. Ask the same follow-up at every school so differences reflect the programs rather than different questions.

Before making a decision, confirm current hours, tuition and fees, availability, policies, and the official licensing record directly. A directory page may be incomplete or out of date, and availability can change.

• What did I see firsthand? What was explained? What still needs confirmation?
• Do the written hours, schedule, fee terms, and pickup policies match my needs?
• What one question would I like answered before deciding, and who will answer it?

Official sources

• Arizona Department of Health Services — AZ Care Check licensing-history search
• Arizona Department of Health Services — Child Care Facilities Survey Process
• Arizona Department of Health Services — Child Care Facilities Licensing and parent information
• Arizona Department of Economic Security — Child Care Assistance