Cabinet for Health and Family Services 2 What can I expect to learn from viewing this slideshow?... Have a general understanding of the STARS for KIDS NOW program and its participation requirements Know how to get TA to help your center participate in STARS for KIDS NOW

Cabinet for Health and Family Services 3 This is not intended to be a STARS Overview. This is not intended to be a STARS Overview. In order to meet the STARS overview requirement….you will need to attend an overview at your local CCR&R.

Cabinet for Health and Family Services 4 What is STARS for KIDS NOW? Part of Kentucky’s Early Childhood Initiative,

Cabinet for Health and Family Services 5 What is STARS for KIDS NOW? Is a voluntary program, but there are regulatory requirements Licensed TYPE I Facilities Licensed TYPE II and Certified Homes

Cabinet for Health and Family Services 6 STARS for KIDS NOW Goals: Increase the quality of child care for all children Increase the quality of child care for all children Recognize and reward quality child care Recognize and reward quality child care Provide consumer awareness/ guidance for families Provide consumer awareness/ guidance for families Increase capacity for subsidy children in higher quality programs Increase capacity for subsidy children in higher quality programs

Cabinet for Health and Family Services 7 What makes a rating? To earn a STARS rating, a program STARS Standards must meet the STARS Standards for and the STARS Level and attain the ERS Score ERS Score required for that level Standards + ERS = STARS Rating

Cabinet for Health and Family Services 8 STARS Standards Requirements Based on:  Child to Caregiver Ratios  Program Curriculum  Child Care Staff Training  Program Regulatory Compliance  Personnel Policies

Cabinet for Health and Family Services 9 STARS Standards The Standards Grid(s) will help explain each STAR Level and its requirements

Cabinet for Health and Family Services 10 Environment Rating Scales ITERS-R Infant/Toddler Environment Rating Scale ECERS-R Early Childhood Environment Rating Scale SACERS School-Age Care Environment Rating Scale FDCRS Family Day Care Rating Scale

Cabinet for Health and Family Services 11 STARS Level 1 Achievement

Cabinet for Health and Family Services 12 How long is a STAR rating valid? 1 Level 1 – Valid 1 year 2 Level 2 – Valid 2 years 3 Level 3 – Valid 3 years 4 Level 4 – Valid 4 years

Cabinet for Health and Family Services 13 You can be a part of STARS! Get credit for the things your center already does!

Cabinet for Health and Family Services 14 Post in public view… Parent’s Corner lllllllllllllllll lllllllllllllllll lllllllllllllllll lllllllllllllllll lllllllllllllllll lllllllllllllllll lllllllllllllllll lllllllllllllllll lllllllllllllllll lllllllllllllllll llllllllllllll Llllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll lllllllllllllvvvvvvvvvvvvv v lllllllllllllllv lllllllllllllllll lllllllllllllllll lllllllllllllllll llllllllllll ABC Child Care Child Care License ABC Child Care Staff/child Ratios lllllllllllllllll lllllllllllllllll lllllllllllllllll llllllllllll Posted in public area of center Staff/Child Ratios and Child Care License or Certificate

Cabinet for Health and Family Services 15 Post in EACH classroom… Parent’s Corner lllllllllllllllll lllllllllllllllll lllllllllllllllll lllllllllllllllll lllllllllllllllll lllllllllllllllll lllllllllllllllll lllllllllllllllll lllllllllllllllll lllllllllllllllll llllllllllllll Llllllllllllllll lllllllllllllllll lllllllllllllllll lllllllllllllv llllllllll llllllllll Staff/child Ratios Llllllllllllllll lllllllllllllllll lllllllllllllllll lllllllllllllvv Daily Schedule Program Activities lllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll lllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll lllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll lllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll lllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll lllllllllllllllllllllllllllllx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxx Daily Menu llllllllll llllllllll Posted in All Classrooms Staff/Child Ratios, Program Activities (Lesson Plan) and Daily Schedule

Cabinet for Health and Family Services 16 Ideas for … Distribute newsletter Distribute program calendar Parent conferences ABC Child Care News Open house Spaghetti supper Lunch/breakfast with parents Mother’s Day teas Father’s Day barbecue Programs (children perform) Family Involvement

Cabinet for Health and Family Services 17 Be above the rest! All STARS levels are measurable quality indicators past the licensing minimum.

Cabinet for Health and Family Services 18 It pays to be in STARS! By participating in the STARS for KIDS NOW….you may be eligible for STARS Achievement and/or Incentive Awards.

Cabinet for Health and Family Services 19 Awards for Type I Facilities

Cabinet for Health and Family Services 20 Awards for Type II and Certified Homes

Cabinet for Health and Family Services 21 We want to see you succeed! Everyone involved in your STARS experience wants you to be successful and will be there to help you and your center reach the desired goal!

Cabinet for Health and Family Services 22 STARS for KIDS NOW Supports Staff to Child Ratio Staff Training and Education Curriculum Regulatory Compliance Scholarship Program NAEYC Mini Grants for Accreditation STAR Quality Coordinators Quality Incentive Payments STAR Achievement Awards Rating Visits By STAR Raters Community Early Childhood Councils CDA Mini Grants Healthy Start Training Professional Development

Cabinet for Health and Family Services 23 For More Information STAR Quality Coordinator (SQC) Your STAR Quality Coordinator (SQC) can tell you more about STARS….. SQCs represent the Kentucky Partnership for Early Childhood Services’ Quality Enhancement Initiative SQCs are located at your local KCTCS SQC Web address:

Cabinet for Health and Family Services 24 We all have the same goal…… We want Kentucky’s children to experience the best quality child care possible STARS for KIDS NOW STARS for KIDS NOW can help you provide that care

Cabinet for Health and Family Services 25 Together we can make a difference for Kentucky’s children Thank you