True but children are dissected into groups like "special needs" and such that change the expected standard of care. Also the designation of the facility often defines what standards it has to meet.
The same agency that inspects/regulates daycare also inspects/regulates TBSs, RTCs, Wilderness. The regs for the latter are more detailed and strict because the kids are being housed 24/7 (residential) and receiving some form of 'treatment'. There are a few similarities, like background checks and food/safety requirements, but many differences. Can't be put in the same pot.
Might be interested in looking at the OIG's report on residential programs, which states that they are inadequately monitored and regulated.
http://oig.hhs.gov/oei/reports/oei-02-98-00570.pdfMost programs self identify as "emotional growth schools", "therapeutic boarding schools" "whatever schools" and usually get pushed into the more lax private school designation or worse they get a religious exemption.
They market themselves as EGS or TBSs, but claim to be private boarding schools whenever approached by the state licensing agency. HLA went so far as to claim that no therapy ocurred there. Not once, but in two separate investigations. Hummmm. ASR claims to be a private boarding school, while advertising as a TBS. Hummm.