Reaching the STARS
Quality Child Care Rating System

Idaho's quality rating system for child care facilities

• Inform parent choice
  
  • A facility's star rating helps parents recognize, choose and expect quality in an early care and education setting.
  • Participation in Reaching the STARS indicates that a facility cares about quality.
• Shape program improvement
  • Facilities choosing to participate in the system receive:
    • an assessment and description of the facility (the Quality Report)
    • support and resources to develop a plan for continued improvement
  • Child care providers in participating facilities receive training and mentoring to improve the quality of care offered in their facility.
    • Research tells us that children who receive quality early care begin school on a positive path to success.
• Implement Strengthening Families through Early Care and Education
  
  • Providers receive training and mentoring to implement this research-based child abuse and neglect prevention framework that focuses on parent involvement.
  • Providers are trained to strengthen families by building five protective factors into their daily interactions, and to teach parents how to build these protective factors into their daily lives.

Reaching the STARS is currently being tested in 22 pilot sites around the state. Every day we learn something new from our successes and mistakes. Every day ideas on how to improve the system are suggested and tested. Together we are creating a system to help and strengthen Idaho families.

The development of Reaching the STARS is guided by these facts:

• All children deserve a high quality environment
• Research tells us that early brain development impacts us our whole life (link to study)
• School success is regulated at local, state and national levels
• Quality early care and education impacts school achievement (link to study)
• Child care providers can play a key role in preventing child abuse and neglect (link to SF))
• Economic studies show that early investment pays off (link to study?)

Around the United States, 36 states have some form of quality rating for child care quality. Reaching the STARS is part of a long-term plan to provide quality care and education for all of Idaho's children. The goals of Idaho's quality rating system are

• To produce positive outcomes for children
• To provide information to help parents seek quality in child care
• To educate child care providers about quality and help strengthen their programs
• To strengthen families and their networks in the prevention of child abuse and neglect
• To define, advocate for and obtain necessary resources to encourage, support and promote quality early care and education

The foundation of a quality rating system is consistent assessment. Reliable assessors have been trained across Idaho to provide objective and consistent (reliable) assessments using the nationally normed Environment Rating Scales by Thelma Harms, Richard Clifford and Deborah Cryer (link to scales). This means that a facility will receive a fair and accurate assessment no matter where the facility is located and no matter which of the trained assessors conducts the assessment. Assessors train and practice regularly to maintain accuracy.

1. What is the pilot project?

   The Reaching the STARS pilot project is a state-wide activity planned as a test or trial. The pilot is an experiment, lasting for about one year. The IdahoSTARS team has been planning for the pilot since 2004, and the pilot is our chance to test the system and make changes in order to offer the best possible system to the public. 96 child care facilities volunteered to be in the pilot project for Reaching the STARS. Twenty-two programs were selected and have been working very hard.

2. How did the pilot project begin and what's in store for the future?

   Since 2004, IdahoSTARS has been studying quality rating systems in other states. We have been gathering data, ideas, and input on quality improvement and child care in Idaho. We received public input on Reaching the STARS through video conferences and regional presentations and used this information to design the Quality Report that each participating facility will receive.
   
   The Reaching the STARS pilot project began in January 2007 and ends March 2008. Three to four facilities per region were selected to walk through the proposed process and offer feedback. The roll out to all facilities in Idaho is scheduled to begin in mid 2008. The number of facilities participating will depend on funding available.
   

3. How will a facility join Reaching the STARS when the system is available to the public?

   After a successful pilot project, Reaching the STARS will be available to all child care facilities in Idaho. Right now this is how we envision the Reaching the STARS process. Of course changes will be made as we get more information from the pilot project:
   

   1. Director/owner attends an orientation
   2. Director/owner submits an application to begin the assessment process
   3. Facility will apply for an environment assessment
   4. Facility receives environment assessment(s)
   5. Director/owner receives a Quality Report. The report will include
      

      1. results of the environment assessments
      2. review of parent surveys
      3. review of staff development
      4. review of facility practices and procedures
   6. Several categories (called Elements to Quality) will be assessed for points on the Quality Report.
   7. The Quality Report will help facilities develop an Improvement Plan that will address areas needing improvement. Support to implement the Improvement Plan will be available through IdahoSTARS as funding allows.
   8. After working on the Improvement Plan, a facility will apply for a published STAR rating. The application will include all the information the Reaching the STARS office needs to complete a Quality Report accurately.
   9. Facilities will be able to re-apply on a regular basis to assess continuing quality improvement.
   
   

4. What performance categories or Elements to Quality are assessed?

   During the pilot, the following categories (called Elements to Quality) are assessed. These categories will most likely change when the pilot is over.

   1. Health, safety, and overall facility quality
   2. Professional Development of the leadership and staff
   3. Focus on 'Strengthening Families'
   4. Staff to Child Ratio and Group Size
   5. Caregiver Interaction
   6. Program or Developmental Appropriate Practices for children
   7. Practices of Inclusion and screening for children
   
   

5. Will the process be fair for all providers?

   Yes. The STAR rating application will be based on the facility's own records, records from the IdahoSTARS PDS Registry, and the nationally recognized, research-based environment rating scales. Qualified assessors will conduct on-site observations and assessments will be consistent throughout the state
   
   
   

6. How will facilities plan for quality improvement?

   IdahoSTARS will support facilities through on-site technical assistance provided through scholarships for Mentor/Coaches, director and staff professional development opportunities, scholarships, mini-grants, peer networking opportunities, quality enhancement funding, educational incentive awards, and individual career advising for directors and staff.
   
   

7. How will parents learn about Reaching the STARS?

   Parents will learn about Reaching the STARS through a variety of public awareness efforts including letters to the editor, Op Ed newspaper articles, Public Service Announcements on television, an educational documentary, Chambers of Commerce, and pamphlets in physician offices and other businesses.
   
   A facility may choose to publish their STAR rating on the referral materials that parents access through the local CCR&R. In addition, the facility's star designation can be identified on the Reaching the STARS facility certificate posted in the facility.
   
   

8. How can a parent find a quality early care and learning program?
   

   Local Child Care Resource and Referral (CCR&R) agencies offer child care referrals to help parents find quality early care and learning services. Parents of any income are eligible for IdahoSTARS CCR&R services. To contact the local CCR&R office call the Idaho CareLine by dialing 2-1-1 or 1-800-926-2588 and ask for the regional CCR&R office. Parents can also obtain information from www.idahostars.org
   
   

9. What does each STAR on the facility certificate mean? Please note that criteria may change after evaluation of the pilot project.

• One STAR: A commitment to quality begins for a legally operating facility. The facility must document the following:

  • Is legally operating (This could mean the facility may or may not be licensed. The facility may not have been inspected for health and safety, or criminal background checks have not been obtained for adults on the premises. Licenses are not required in all areas of the states. Parents will need to check for specific licensing regulations in their community).
  • Has signed a Reaching the STARS Continuous Quality Improvement commitment statement and it is posted in the facility for parents to read.
  • Has a minimum of 25% of the primary caregivers/teachers enrolled in IdahoSTARS Registry.
  • Has attended a Reaching the STARS orientation.

• One STAR Plus: The commitment begins for a licensed facility. The facility must document the following:

  • Is a licensed early care and learning facility (A license infers that a health and safety inspection has been conducted, criminal background checks have been issued for all adults on the premises, and some training is required. A parent will have to check for the specific licensing regulations in their community).
  • Has signed a Reaching the STARS Continuous Quality Improvement commitment statement and it is posted in the facility for parents to read.
  • Has a minimum of 50% of the primary caregivers/teachers enrolled in IdahoSTARS Registry.
  • Has attended a Reaching the STARS overview orientation.



• Two STARS: The second STAR relates to the quality of care as it reflects the developmental needs of the children. The facility must document the following:

  • Has received the One STAR PLUS designation
  • Has met additional quality criteria relating to these Elements of Quality:
    • Health, safety, and overall facility quality
    • Professional development of the leadership and staff
    • Focus on strengthening families



• Three STARS: The facility must document the following:

  • Has met the criteria for at least 2 STARS and has exceeded the criteria for these Elements of Quality:

    • Health, safety, and overall facility quality
    • Professional Development of the leadership and staff
    • Focus on strengthening Families
  • Has met additional quality criteria base upon these Elements of Quality:
    • Staff to Child Ratio and Group Size
    • Caregiver Interaction
    • Program or Developmental Appropriate Practices for children
    • Practices of Inclusion and screening for children



• Four STARS: The facility must document the following:

  • Has met the criteria for the 3 STARS designation
  • Plus meets national standards of quality based upon national standards as established by NAEYC or NAFCC



• Four STAR Plus: The facility must document the following:

  • Has met all criteria for a 4 STARS designation
  • Plus is an accredited early care and learning facility by NAEYC or NAFCC

A number of recent studies have proven that high quality early childhood experiences greatly affect children's development, their success in school, their earning potential as adults, and even their future relationships. One study, the High/Scope Perry Preschool Study, found that children who experienced high quality early care had reduced incidences of criminal arrests, higher earnings, higher graduation and attendance rates, and were more committed to marriage. Using the evidence gathered in this and other long-term studies, economic analysts throughout the United States have concluded that high quality early childhood education is the most cost effective way to ensure our future economic development and prosperity. They further predict that every dollar spent on high quality early childhood education returns from $3 to $17 later in reduced special education, welfare and prison costs, plus increased personal earnings and taxes paid.

While the Perry Preschool and other similar studies demonstrate that positive child outcomes are related to high quality care, the Cost, Quality and Outcomes Study found that quality of care in most child care centers is often only mediocre. Of the more than 400 facilities studied in four states, only 8% of infant classrooms and 24% of preschool classrooms were of good to excellent quality. This study also found that 10 % of the preschool programs and 40% of the infant programs were rated as having poor quality.