Arizona is the 12th most-expensive state in the nation for preschool programs, with parents paying anywhere from $4,000 to $8,000 per child annually. The median income for Arizona families with children 17 and younger is $47,406, according to 2005 census figures.

"The key challenge for us as a state is equal access to high-quality child care for the working poor and the low- to moderate-income families," said Bruce Liggett, executive director of the Arizona Child Care Association, a non-profit group of 600 centers that works to promote access to quality preschool.

Unlike some other states, such as Florida, Arizona does not have a preschool tax credit to pay for early education, nor does it have a uniform rating system for parents to gauge such programs.

But several recent initiatives aim to improve early education in Arizona, including state lawmakers' putting $160 million toward phasing in statewide all-day kindergarten over the next two years.

In addition, officials are piloting a star system to rate preschools. It will eventually operate like a Better Business Bureau Web site. And in November, voters will decide on Proposition 203, which would add 80 cents to the cost of tobacco products and could generate $150 million a year. That money would go toward voluntary health screenings and education programs for children from birth to 5 years, whether it be child care; preschool, which is for kids 3 and younger; or pre-kindergarten.

Tamony Crawford of Surprise wanted her son in a preschool program that would offer a real education, not just baby-sitting. She wanted to prepare him for kindergarten. And she wanted something affordable.

"Price, location and the overall feel when I walked in was what I looked at," the mother said. "I wanted something that was more like a school (because) we really wanted him ready for kindergarten."

For Crawford, it was the educational programs that ultimately helped her pick Valley Child Care. Youngsters were exposed to art and music and recognized the alphabet and numbers, along with learning social skills like sharing.

"You definitely make sacrifices," Crawford said, adding that if preschool costs weren't so high, she probably could have done a few more home-improvement projects. "But we feel he's ready (for kindergarten). You have to balance the cost and getting them ready for the world, and you want to do the best for your child."

So they toured Cactus Preschool in Tempe and selected it because of price and location. It's on the way to work for both parents, who take turns driving their younger son, Grayson, 1. Garrett, 5, went to Cactus for four years before moving on to kindergarten.

"I was concerned with ratio (of teachers to children), price and the type of curriculum and activities," Rana said. "It's great because one week they're learning about caterpillars and the next airplanes."

There is no statewide push to help parents pay for child care, but officials are developing a five-star rating system that would help parents identify quality programs.

For the past two years, United Way of Tucson and Southern Arizona has piloted the rating system at 46 sites, which will eventually expand across the state.

"Arizona has fairly low qualifications," said Dana Vela, vice president of Sunrise Preschools, which operates 19 child-care centers throughout the Valley.

Arizona ranks among the 14 worst in the nation when it comes to providing tax assistance to help working families meet the high costs of caring for children, according to a study released in April by the National Women's Law Center.

"A state child- and dependent-care tax credit would help offset the high costs of care and would allow struggling Arizona residents to continue to work and support their families," she said.

No matter what type of early-childhood education program parents decide is fit for their child, Arizona State University's early-childhood education Professor Eugene Garcia gives this advice. You need to think about what you want your child to gain from the experience.

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