Almost 2,500 day care programs in Georgia have failed to meet the state's standards for children's health and safety at least once in the past four years, according to an analysis of internal records obtained by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

The analysis found that 220 day cares received failing scores for at least two years in a row, and that at least 200 of those centers are still open.

The data was culled from scores quietly compiled by the state Department of Early Care and Learning since 2007. The newspaper obtained the records through an open records request.

The department said Friday it would create a process to identify and track day care centers that have repeatedly failed to meet the state's standards.

Tags: day care center, day care, Department of Early Care and Learning