STARS and Public Preschool
Some communities offer up to 10 hours a week of publicly-funded preschool
for some three- and four-year old children through the public schools or
in partnership with other qualified community programs (registered home
child care, Head Start, Parent Child Centers, etc.). One requirement for
these programs to qualify to provide pre-kindergarten education is that
they have at least three STARS with a plan to achieve four STARS in three
years or be nationally accredited. In some situations, you can enroll your
children in qualified programs located in towns other than where you live.
You can contact your local school to see if your town offers publicly-funded
preschool and, if your child is selected, you may have the option of enrolling
your child in a STARS-recognized program of your choice located in a town
nearby.
Finding Quality Child Care
Image courtesy of Mary Johnson Children's Center
Child
care is a topic of critical importance to families. No one can ever replace
the loving care and attention you give your child. Yet when you cannot
be there, you still want your child to learn she is a very special person;
that he is loved, smart, fun and capable. This is the very essence of
quality in early childhood care — the expertise and skills of the
staff and their capacity to build positive relationships with young children.
Types of Care Provided by STARS Providers
Family child care homes provide care outside your home and can be run by friends, family members, neighbors and others. All STARS family child care homes are required to be registered, which means the provider must meet Vermont’s regulations for health and safety for registered family child care.
Center-based care includes part-day and full-day programs, afterschool programs and preschools. Depending on where you live in Vermont, some summer day camps, Head Start and early education programs are also center-based. All STARS center-based programs must be licensed to care for a larger number of children, which means the center must meet Vermont’s regulations for health and safety for licensed child care.
School-based care includes pre-kindergarten and afterschool programs that are provided in a local school. All STARS school-based programs are required to be licensed or registered, which means the provider must meet Vermont’s regulations for health and safety.
Vermont law requires that those people caring for children from more than two families other than their own be registered or licensed. A person can become registered even if she or he cares for only one child. There are many benefits to becoming registered for the caregiver and the children: training and other support; payments for offering nutritious meals to young children; and payments for child care provided to families who are eligible for financial assistance.
Understanding STARS
“My provider has four stars.”
This statement may not mean much to you as a parent because you might not know what four stars shows in terms of program quality. STARS is based on five areas of self-evaluation: compliance with state regulations; staff qualifications and training; daily activities, interaction and overall support of children, families, and the community; how thoroughly providers assess what they do and their plans for improvements; and the strength of the program’s operating policies and business practices. These areas are documented through the STARS application process and reviewed by an independent contractor for the State of Vermont.
Each area has one, two, or three points for achievements beyond what is required by state regulations for licensed and registered child care programs. The points are totaled across these five areas. Programs then receive from one to five stars according to the number of points obtained. Here’s a breakdown of what stars mean for you and your child.
One-star programs (1-4 points) are examining their practices to enhance the services they provide you and your children. These programs may show strength in one area over another, be relatively new, or be beginning a path of program improvement and growth.
Two-star programs (5-7 points) are making a commitment to strengthening their practices. These programs may show an investment in one or two areas or progress in many areas.
Three-star programs (8-10 points) have made improvements and are working on accomplishing specific goals. These programs have made substantial achievements either with multiple accomplishments in two or three areas or showing several strong markers across all areas.
Four-star programs (11-13 points) are established programs that have met several standards of quality in all five areas. These programs promote the well-being of parents, children and colleagues, with commendable practices in one or more areas and are building on strong practices they are already in place.
Five-star programs (14-15 points) have demonstrated numerous markers of quality in all five areas. These programs are dedicated to operating at high standards, offering parents, children and colleagues a respectful and professional environment. These programs have shown a commitment to the profession and a willingness to stand as a model of that profession.
Ask a STARS Provider Questions
There are many questions to ask any child care provider when you are looking for care. Read through or download the Child Care and You booklet in our Quick Links for general questions to ask a possible provider. In addition to those, here are some questions we recommend asking a STARS provider.
- How long have you been a STARS provider?
- What is your STARS recognition level?
- What does your STARS recognition level mean for your program and my child?
- Can I see your STARS certificate?
