Ensuring your child care program stands out means focusing on quality. Parents are increasingly seeking environments that not only care for their children but also foster their development and growth. One significant way to demonstrate your commitment to excellence is through a star-rated license. This article will guide you through understanding how points are earned in a star-rated system, highlighting key aspects that contribute to a quality child care program. While not explicitly listed as “20 components”, the criteria for achieving a higher star rating effectively encompass many essential elements of a top-tier child care service. Let’s explore the program and education standards that define quality in child care.
Program Standards: Building a Foundation for Quality
Program standards are the bedrock of any quality child care service. They assess the environment and activities provided to children. For child care centers, achieving a higher star rating involves demonstrating enhanced program quality through several avenues:
- Activity Enrichment: Increasing the variety and scope of activities and designated activity areas available to children. This caters to diverse interests and learning styles, a crucial component of a stimulating child care setting.
- Spacious Environments: Meeting enhanced space requirements ensures children have ample room to play, explore, and learn comfortably. Adequate space is directly linked to positive child behavior and engagement.
- Optimal Staff-Child Ratios: Enhanced staff-child ratios allow for more individualized attention and care, fostering stronger relationships between caregivers and children. This is a cornerstone of responsive and nurturing child care.
- Environment Rating Scale (ERS) Excellence: Achieving a score of 4.0 or higher on a recognized Environment Rating Scale assessment signifies a high-quality learning environment. This comprehensive assessment tool evaluates various aspects of the program’s environment.
For family child care homes, the path to higher program standard points includes:
- Self-Assessment and Improvement: Conducting a self-study using the Family Child Care Home Environment Rating Scale over three months demonstrates a commitment to continuous improvement and self-reflection – key traits of a quality program.
- Environmental Quality Validation: Achieving a score of 4.0 or higher on the Environment Rating Scale validates the home’s environment as conducive to quality child care.
- Infant-Focused Care: Reducing the number of infants enrolled allows for more focused and specialized care for the youngest children, recognizing their unique developmental needs.
The Environment Rating Scales (ERS) are pivotal in determining program standard points. Scores between 4.0 and 5.0 across all assessed groups are necessary to earn significant points (three to seven). Preparation and practice are key to excelling on ERS assessments. Resources like the North Carolina Rated License Assessment Project (NCRLAP) website offer valuable guidance, answering common questions and providing preparation strategies. Mock assessments are a useful tool for programs to identify strengths and areas needing improvement before the official evaluation.
Education Standards: Investing in Staff Expertise
The quality of a child care program is intrinsically linked to the expertise and qualifications of its staff. Education standards focus on the educational attainment and experience of caregivers.
For child care centers, earning higher points in education standards hinges on:
- Administrator and Lead Teacher Credentials: Having an administrator and at least 75% of lead teachers who have met credential requirements demonstrates a commitment to qualified leadership and teaching staff.
- Experienced and Educated Staff: A significant percentage of staff with extra semester hours in early childhood education and/or substantial child care experience elevates the overall quality of care.
- Advanced Early Childhood Education: Earning maximum points requires a high percentage of staff to have completed advanced early childhood coursework or hold certifications like the NC Early Care and Education certification, alongside extensive experience.
Family child care homes also earn education standard points based on similar criteria:
- Provider Credentials and Certifications: Holding an NC Family Child Care Credential or Certification in NC Early Care and Education demonstrates foundational knowledge and commitment to professional standards.
- Early Childhood Education Coursework: Relevant coursework in early childhood education is a key factor in point allocation.
- Child Care Experience: Practical experience working with children is highly valued and contributes to earning points.
The highest point level in education standards for family child care homes is achieved when the operator possesses a degree in Early Childhood Education/Child Development, or an associate degree in any major coupled with 12 hours in early childhood/child development, and has significant experience in the field.
Quality Points: Going Above and Beyond
To further enhance a star rating, child care programs can pursue a Quality Point. This additional point, when added to program and education standard points, can significantly impact the final star rating. Quality Points are earned by exceeding basic requirements in either education or programmatic areas.
Examples of Education Quality Point Options:
- Infant/Toddler Specialization: Having 75% of infant/toddler teachers with an Infant/Toddler Certificate signifies specialized expertise in caring for the youngest age group.
- Advanced Degrees for Leadership: Requiring all lead teachers and 75% of teachers to hold an Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) degree or higher in early childhood education/child development demonstrates a high level of educational attainment within the program.
- School-Age Care Expertise: Ensuring 75% of group leaders hold an NC School Age Care Credential or have completed 6 semester hours in school-age coursework highlights specialized knowledge in caring for older children.
- Provider Advanced Education: Family child care providers with an Infant/Toddler Certificate or a Bachelor’s/Bachelor of Arts (BS/BA) degree or higher in early childhood education/child development demonstrate a strong educational foundation.
- Continuous Professional Development: Committing to 20 additional annual ongoing training hours for all center staff and home providers emphasizes a culture of continuous learning and improvement.
Examples of Programmatic Quality Point Options:
- Developmentally Appropriate Curriculum: Utilizing an age and developmentally appropriate curriculum that addresses the five domains of child development (excluding 4 and 5-star rated programs serving 4-year-olds) ensures a well-rounded and effective learning experience.
- Reduced Group Sizes: Lowering group sizes in centers allows for more individualized attention and better classroom management.
- Improved Staff-Child Ratios: Further reducing staff-child ratios beyond the standard requirements enhances the quality of interaction and care.
- Smaller Home-Based Preschool Capacity: Limiting licensed capacity to four preschool children in a family child care home allows for a more intimate and focused learning environment.
- Business Acumen: Completing a business training course for center administrators and family child care home providers strengthens the operational and administrative foundations of the program.
How Points Translate to Star Ratings
The points earned across program standards, education standards, and quality points directly determine the star rating of a child care program. The following table illustrates this relationship:
| Number of Stars Received | Total Points Earned |
|---|---|
| 1 – 3 Points | |
| 4 – 6 Points | |
| 7 – 9 Points | |
| 10 – 12 Points | |
| 13 – 15 Points |
Example: A facility achieving 4 points in program standards, 4 points in education standards, and earning 1 quality point accumulates a total of 9 points, resulting in a three-star rating.
| Example |
|---|
| Program Standards |
| Education Standards |
| Quality Point |
| Total Score |
| Star Earned |
For comprehensive information about star-rated licenses, consult Section .2800 of the child care requirements. Detailed point distribution charts for program and education standards, effective after and before March 1, 2019, are available for various child care settings:
| For more information about the star rated license, refer to Section .2800 of the child care requirements. For a summary of the points distribution for program and education standards after March 1, 2019, click on the charts below. | For more information about the star rated license, refer to Section .2800 of the child care requirements. For a summary of the points distribution for program and education standards before March 1, 2019, click on the charts below. |
|---|---|
| Child care centers with preschool only | Child care centers with preschool only (before 3/1/2019) |
| Child care centers with preschool and school-age | Child care centers with preschool and school-age (before 3/1/2019) |
| Child care centers with school-age only | Child care centers with school-age only (before 3/1/2019) |
| Child care centers located in residence | Child care centers located in a residence (before 3/1/2019) |
| Family child care homes | Family child care homes (before 3/1/2019) |
By focusing on program standards, investing in education standards, and pursuing quality points, child care providers can demonstrably enhance their services and achieve higher star ratings, signaling a commitment to quality that resonates with parents and the community.
