Abstract
This paper aims to clarify the recent research trends on the theme of "educational quality" in the German kindergarten. I especially examine the accomplishments by Tietze, W. study-group (Berlin Free University). Their research has two significant success points. The first is the proposal of "good-seal (Gutesiegel)". This contains 4 educational qualities. (1) the educational idea, (2) the educational structure, (3) the educational process, (4) the cooperation with family. The second significant point is of the publication of the "national standard catalog for the educational quality of kindergarten (the third edition, 2007). This catalog composes 21 areas and 6 important view-points. This is used to plan for securing and improving the educational quality in each kindergarten. I think that these accomplishments by the Tietze, W. study-group are, as a step in pre-school education, significant in giving a new social function for the kindergarten.
