The relation between compliance with child care regulations and the quality of day care programs is discussed, and predictors of child care compliance are identified. Substantial compliance (90-97 percent, but not a full 100 percent compliance with state day care regulations) positively affects children. Low compliance (below 85 percent compliance) places children at increased risk. A Generic Checklist for Child Care offers predictors of child care compliance that state agencies should emphasize in their monitoring of child care programs. Items on the checklist concern: (1) director qualifications; (2) health appraisal; (3) supervision of children; (4) adult/child ratios; (5) sufficient space; (6) emergency contact information; (7) a hazard-free environment; (8) inaccessibility of toxic materials; (9) nonhazardous equipment; (10) nutrition; (11) medication; (12) transportation of children in a safety carrier; and (13) the orientation of activities provided for children. Concluding remarks emphasize that inasmuch as day care regulations alone will not ensure high quality child care services for children, state agencies should use the Generic Checklist in combination with other evaluation tools to monitor child care programs. Benefits of using the checklist are noted. (RH)