IdahoSTARS Registry &
Career Pathway / Incentive Plan

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the overall Goal of the IdahoSTARS Professional Development System?

   • To increase the skills and knowledge of individuals working in the early care and education field to improve the quality of child care for the children in Idaho.

2. What are the Guiding Principles of the IdahoSTARS Professional Development System?

   • Year #1 - (March 2004 – February 2005) was to recruit and enroll participants into the system.

   • Year #2 - (March 2005 February 2006) was to encourage participants to begin formal training and education.

   • Year #3 – (Beginning March 2006) to emphasize supporting providers to move as quickly as possible to the CDA level and recognize retention for providers who continue training and education at the higher pathway levels

   • Incentives are awards for recognition of increasing skills and knowledge and are available to eligible participants on a first come first serve basis as long as funding is available. Participants in the IdahoSTARS Professional Development System are making an "Investment in Themselves" by taking advantage of the opportunities offered by the program.

   • The System provides resources, scholarships and incentives to improve the quality of early care and education in Idaho. The System recognizes training and education through a variety of agencies and programs.

3. What is the purpose of the IdahoSTARS Professional Development System (PDS)?

   • To promote early childhood as a profession.
   • To treat early childhood teachers, especially those providing child care as professionals.
   • To encourage early childhood teachers to consider themselves as professionals.
   • To provide a goal-oriented system through which early childhood professionals can increase their knowledge and prestige in the field.



4. What is the Professional Development Registry?

   • The IdahoSTARS Professional Development Registry is a voluntary, statewide process to recognize and document the professional achievements of people who work in the early childhood care and education field.
   • The Registry is designed to track the status, wages, working conditions, employment and education of those working in the early childhood field in Idaho.



5. What is the IdahoSTARS Career Pathway?

   • The Pathway is a recognition system which places those working in the early childhood field on a career pathway level based on his/her past experiences and education. The IdahoSTARS Career Pathway also outlines what is required in order to move from one level to the next.



6. Who may apply?

   Those working in the Early Childhood field that are employed as caregivers, child care providers, teachers, educators, trainers, coordinators, directors, administrators and other advocates for young children and families may apply. The Registry is designed for anyone working with children birth to age eight who is providing direct or indirect services in a variety of settings. After School Child Care Providers are also included in this Registry.

   Applicants must:

   • Be at least 16 years old and working in an early care and education program.
   • Meet all state and local child care licensing requirements for current position.
   • Have clock hours of approved training divided between the 9 IdahoSTARS Core Knowledge Categories.
   • Have certification in Infant/Child CPR and Basic First Aid training if working in a child care setting.

   If an applicant has a college degree, the degree must be in Early Childhood Education, Early Childhood Special Education or in a field related to early childhood education, or in a major relevant to the operation of an early childhood program.

   If an applicant does not have a college degree in Early Childhood or related field, college credits relevant to Early Childhood training and theory will be considered, as will training in early childhood education.




7. Why should I apply?

   Once you have received your Professional Development Pathway Certificate, you can use it to...

   • Count yourself as a professional in early childhood services in Idaho.
   • Apply for various scholarships through IdahoSTARS.
   • Receive incentives as you progress along the career pathway.
   • Inform parents about your level of professional development as you make decisions about your fees for care and education services.
   • Attract new families to your program.
   • Apply for new employment positions in an early childhood program or negotiate for a salary increase with current employer.
   • Document your level of professional development and areas of expertise.
   • Plan your future education and career goals.



8. What are the criteria to be eligible for IdahoSTARS Incentives as an employee of a child care facility?

   To be eligible to receive Incentives and Scholarships in the IdahoSTARS System the applicant must be able to respond with a yes to all of the following:

   • Works in a child care setting designed to care for children while parents /guardians work or attend training.
   • Works in a program that operates full time.
   • Is regularly scheduled to work directly with children as their caregiver/teacher at least 15 hrs/week or 780 hours in one year.
   • Earn $15.00/hr or less.



9. What are the criteria to be eligible for IdahoSTARS Incentives as the Director/Owner of a child care facility?

   • The facility is a child care setting designed to care for children while parent(s)/Guardian(s) work or attend training.
   • The facility is a program that operates full time.
   • Is regularly scheduled to work directly in the facility with children, staff, and parents a minimum of 30 hours/week.
   • Earns $15/hour or less.



10. Why does IdahoSTARS only give cash Incentives to those who provide child care?

    • The goal of IdahoSTARS is to improve the quality of care that children receive, especially the children of working families. Also, the funds used for the PDS are required by the US Federal Government to support child care settings.



11. What Incentives can I receive? The following incentives are available for those who qualify:

    • Application Incentive for Pathway Level 1.1 and above – successful application to become part of the IdahoSTARS Registry.
    • Completion Incentives for levels 1.0 – 3.5 - after completion of 15 hours of IdahoSTARS Approved training hours or 1 college credit related to ECE that follows the participant's Professional Development Plan. If the completion of 15 hours/1 credit makes the participant eligible for a level move, the incentive award would be for the greater amount not both.
    • Recognition Incentive for levels 4.0 – 6.3 that have completed a minimum of 15 IdahoSTARS Approved training hours or 1 college credit during the year and have been employed 12 consecutive months in the profession.
    • Recognition Incentive for levels 6.4 – 8.0 that have at least 3 years experience working in a child care setting and have completed a minimum of 15 hrs/1 credit ECE related during the current year and have been employed 12 consecutive months in the profession. Recipients must be able to document additional involvement in the profession over the past 12 months. (i.e. is an officer or actively involved in an early childhood professional organization, has conducted training, or is a mentor, or’Ķ.. etc.)
    • Level Move Incentives for moving to the next level on the Pathway.
    • Academic and Training Scholarships are limited to one or the other. (See detailed information below for Scholarship Opportunities.)
    • Facility Enhancement Grants are funds that will be awarded to qualifying facilities to improve the areas identified in an Environmental Rating Assessment.



12. What are IdahoSTARS Scholarship Opportunities?

    • IdahoSTARS Scholarships are available only to IdahoSTARS Professional Development Registry Participants who meet the incentive eligibility criteria.
    • In order to broaden the distribution of incentives available through the IdahoSTARS project, Academic (degree seeking scholarship recipients) and Training Scholarships offered to participants are limited to one or the other. Participants can not collect both incentive programs at the same time.
    • Academic scholarships are "degree seeking" scholarships, 3-semesters each, at colleges throughout the state with accredited Early Childhood programs.
    • Participants may use training scholarships for approved college courses relating to ECE.
    • Provider Training Modules On-Site ’Äì i.e. DVD Emergent Literacy, and other approved on-line courses.
    • Mentor services: Apprenticeships, Individual projects, Accreditation.
    • Training Scholarships will be limited to a maximum or $300 per calendar year based on actual cost of training. IdahoSTARS will only pay out scholarships for $25 and over, so if training costs less than $25, submit more than one receipt per request (to total more than $25) for incentive eligible applicants.
    • Academic Scholarships will be limited to tuition scholarships only. Academic scholars are not eligible for the Completion or Recognition Incentives or Training Scholarships. Academic scholarship recipients will move levels upon completion of their degree.
    • o Levels 6.0 and above are only eligible for Training Scholarships no Academic Scholarships.



13. How do I become eligible for IdahoSTARS Recognition Incentives?

    If you are eligible for incentives and you are not currently under an academic contract, you would complete a combination of attending or teaching a minimum of 15 hours of IdahoSTARS approved training or completing 1 college credit. Please note that:

    • All training must be divided over the 9 IdahoSTARS Core Knowledge Components.
    • For annual incentives at least 3 training hours must relate to training for inclusion or working with children who have special needs and abilities which would be Component 9.
    • No more than 25% of the hours can be in a single Core Knowledge Component.
    • Duplicate trainings will not be accepted.
    • CPR and First Aid must be current but training hours only count upon initial entry into the Registry.
    • USDA required yearly training hours will not be counted.



14. What are the 9 Core Knowledge Components?

    1. Child Growth and Development
    2. The Environment, Curriculum and Practice
    3. Character Building and Development
    4. Relationships with Families
    5. Observing, Recording and Assessing Child Outcomes
    6. Program Operation and Administration
    7. Professionalism and Leadership
    8. Health, Safety and Nutrition
    9. Special Needs



15. What if I attend a training that isn't IdahoSTARS approved?

    • If you wish to receive IdahoSTARS approved training hours, you must submit the training information to the IdahoSTARS Training Coordinator for a "Post-Approval". See www.idahostars.org for more information.



16. What if I don't attend a training that I received a Scholarship for?

    • If a scholarship recipient did not attend the training that they received a scholarship for they are responsible to repay that scholarship. Outstanding account balances with IdahoSTARS/Idaho AEYC must be paid in full within 30 days of being invoiced. Until the balance is paid in full the IdahoSTARS Registry participant will not be eligible for any IdahoSTARS incentives or scholarships including but not limited to: pathway, training & academic scholarships; or other accreditation and enhancement grants.



17. What if a Person Does Not Agree with the Level of Placement on the Pathway?

    If you believe that your education, training, Environmental Rating Scale Measurement, or other documentation should be reconsidered for placement on the Career Pathways at a higher level, you may appeal to the IdahoSTARS Registry Review Committee within 10 days of receiving your placement notification. The committee consists of 3-5 members of the IdahoSTARS Administrative Team. After the review, you will receive a letter explaining their findings. If you still believe the assessment was not conducted correctly, an outside mediator will be utilized. The following documents must be presented for an appeal:

    • Cover Letter describing why you wish to appeal.
    • Additional documentation about course content, projects, independent study credits, and other items you feel might be helpful.
    • Evidence of informal (non-credit) training hours that you have completed in the 9 Core Knowledge Areas.