This analysis projects standards and costs for three types of day care situations: (1) care in a center for the full day; (2) care in a foster home for the full day; and (3) care in a center before and after school and during the summer. Standards are given for three levels of quality of day care: minimum (maintains the health and safety of the child, but provides relatively little for his developmental needs), acceptable (provides a basic program of developmental activities as well as minimum care), and desirable (includes the full range of general and specialized developmental activities suitable for individualized development.) Costs for day care programs vary greatly throughout the country, reflecting salary and other variables and differences in kinds of services available to the child (such as Medicaid.) The costs shown may be reducible if space or transportation is donated, if services such as medical care are available through other funding sources, or if fees are paid by parents. The four attached tables present standards and costs for the three day care situations, plus a comparative summary and estimate of national costs. (Author/NH)