Child Care Aware of America, a national watchdog group, ranked Kansas third nationally this year in a review of child-care quality and safety rules. Minnesota ranked 17th. Kansas earns praise for frequent inspections, but some states, such as Oklahoma, have even more inspectors and more frequent inspections.

INSPECTIONS

Kansas: Annual, unannounced

Minnesota: Every two years, sometimes unannounced

CAPACITY (with max of two infants)

Kansas: Nine children

Minnesota: Ten children

INSPECTION REPORTS ONLINE

Kansas: Yes

Minnesota: No

TRAINING FOR PROVIDERS

Kansas: 15 hours initial/five hours annual

Minnesota: 10 hours initial/eight hours annual

IN-HOME CHILD-CARE DEATHS, 2012

Kansas: One

Minnesota: Eight