What is STARS? How are STARS awarded? Who can apply?
These are some of the questions you will find answers to in this section.
General Questions
- What is STARS?
- What do STARS indicate?
- How are STARS determined?
- How was STARS created?
- Who can apply for STARS?
- Is STARS required?
- What is the difference between STARS and Licensing?
- How does STARS relate to Building Bright Futures?
- Where can I find a list of STARS providers?
What is STARS?
STARS is Vermont’s quality rating system for child care, preschool
and afterschool programs. STARS is a public/private partnership created
and led by the Child Development Division of the Vermont Department for
Children and Families.
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What do STARS indicate?
Achieving STARS recognition indicates that a child care, preschool or
afterschool program has gone above and beyond Vermont’s basic
regulatory standards.
Parents can look for STARS as an indicator of quality when
choosing child care.
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How are STARS determined?
STARS recognition is determined by completing a self-assessment, and
submitting supporting documentation.
Providers may apply for STARS recognition
in five arenas. They are:
• compliance history
• qualifications and training
• families and community
• program assessment
• administration
Providers can choose whether to apply for one to three points in each arena for a total of 15 possible points. For any arena, providers can indicate that their program is operating according to state regulations and they are not seeking additional points.
Image courtesy of Mary Johnson Children's CenterLearning Partners, Inc., a contracted administrator, reviews the self-assessment and supporting documentation. The Child Development Division then awards the appropriate level of STARS recognition. Certificates are valid for one year and must be renewed to continue participation.
Points are totaled across all five arenas to determine the number of STARS
a provider will receive.
1-4 points – One Star
5-7 points – Two Stars
8-10 points – Three Stars
11-13 points – Four Stars
14-15 points – Five Stars
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How was STARS created?
Many other states have implemented graduated recognition systems to recognize
the efforts of child care programs that operate above the standards of
basic regulations. The Child Development Division took the strengths
of other states’ systems
and combined them with input and feedback from providers, children’s
mental health practitioners, parents and other community members to
create STARS. STARS is funded by The Child Development Division and
generous partners.
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Who can apply for STARS?
Any provider regulated through the Child Development Division, who has
met the regulatory compliance criteria, may apply. This includes registered
and licensed family child care homes, licensed early childhood programs
including public school programs, licensed school age care programs, Head
Start and Early Head Start programs and nonrecurring care programs (e.g.,
resort area child care).
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Is STARS required?
STARS participation is not required for licensing or registration, however
there are financial benefits and The Child Development Division will
require programs to be in STARS or be accredited to be eligible for a
variety of grants.
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What is the difference between STARS and
licensing?
Licensing reflects the current requirements of many state statutes related
to the health, safety and welfare of Vermont’s children. Registered
and licensed providers must comply with all of
Vermont laws including related health, safety or welfare regulations.
In contrast, STARS recognizes the achievements
of providers who go above and beyond the licensing regulations that all
providers are required to follow.
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How does STARS relate to Building Bright Futures?
The purpose of Building Bright Futures is to ensure that all Vermont
children are healthy and successful by improving the quality, affordability
and accessibility of services in the areas of health, early care and
education for families with children under the age of six. The Building
Bright Futures State Council is responsible for improving the system
by advising state departments and the governor on early childhood policy
and funding issues. Locally, 12 Building Bright Futures Regional Councils,
each with a director, engage the region in early childhood issues, communicate
gaps in service to the State Council and develop, implement and monitor
early childhood regional plans designed to improve outcomes for families
with young children.
The Building Bright Futures State Council supports STARS as a strategy to improve access to high quality child care, preschool and afterschool programs. The Building Bright Futures executive director is a member of the STARS Oversight Committee and the Building Bright Futures Regional Directors support STARS by raising awareness about the program and encouraging participation.
For more information about Building Bright Futures go to www.buildingbrightfutures.org.Back • Top
Where can I find a list of STARS providers?
A list of recognized providers can be found on our STARS
Providers Page,
or by calling the Child Development Division at 1-800-649-2642.
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Application Questions
- What is the application process?
- If my program is school-based, do I need to apply to STARS?
- If I want to contract with our local school district to provide a pre-kindergarten program and receive funding, do I need to be a STARS provider?
- When will my program be ready to apply for STARS?
- How can I receive an application?
- What assistance will I receive to complete the STARS process?
- Does a program need to renew its STARS?
What is the application process?
STARS recognition is determined by completing a self-assessment and
submitting
supporting documentation.
You may apply for recognition in five arenas. They are:
• compliance history
• qualifications and training
• families and community
• program assessment
• administration
You can choose whether to apply for one to three points in each arena for a total of 15 possible points. For any arena, you can indicate that your program is operating according to state regulations and is not seeking additional points.
Learning Partners, Inc., a contracted administrator, validates the self-assessment and supporting documentation. The Child Development Division then awards the appropriate level of STARS recognition. Certificates are valid for one year and must be renewed to continue participation.
Points are totaled across all five arenas to determine the number of STARS
you will receive.
1-4 points – One Star
5-7 points – Two Stars
8-10 points – Three Stars
11-13 points – Four Stars
14-15 points – Five Stars
For more detailed information, you can download the STARS program guide
and application by visiting the Application Download
Page.
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If my program is school-based,
do I need to apply to STARS?
To participate in the public preschool partnership, all programs, including
school-based programs, must achieve the appropriate STARS rating level
or be nationally accredited by NAEYC. If the school-based program is
enrolled in STARS, it must have achieved the four- or five-star level
with two points in each arena. It
may also be possible to participate in partnerships if your program has
achieved the three-star level if you have a plan approved by the school
district to achieve four stars.
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If I want to contract with our local school district to provide a pre-kindergarten
program and receive funding, do I need to be a STARS provider?
Programs that would like to contract with the school district to
deliver pre-kindergarten services need to either be accredited by NAEYC or be
in STARS. If your program is in STARS, it must have achieved the four-
or five-star level with two points in each arena. It may also be possible
to participate in partnerships if your program has achieved the three-star
level if you have a plan approved by the school district to achieve four
stars.
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When will my program be ready to apply for STARS?
You may apply for STARS at any time. Even if you feel your program is
not operating at your ideal level yet, do not hesitate to apply for
STARS. STARS is designed to recognize providers’ achievements in
the arenas in which they are strongest, while they continue to improve
in other arenas. Receiving even one STAR is an accomplishment and indicates
that you have gone above and beyond Vermont’s basic regulatory standards.
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How can I receive an application?
You may request a STARS application by directly calling the Child Development
Division at 1-800-649-2642, contacting Learning Partners, Inc. at (802)
479-5261, or by visiting the Application Download
page.
No application fee is required.
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What assistance will I receive to complete the STARS process?
Technical assistance and support is available from Learning Partners,
Inc., a contracted administrator, if you would like to work on any
of the five arenas of evaluation or if you need help with the application
process. Once you have received STARS, you will have continued access
to technical assistance and other professional program development
resources to continue upward mobility in STARS. Learning Partners can
be reached at learningpartnrs@aol.com or
by calling (802) 479-5261.
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Does a program need to renew its STARS?
Your STARS certificate and recognition level is valid for one year, starting
with the first day of the month after the complete application is processed.
You need to renew your STARS rating through the application process
to maintain your listing as a STARS provider. If your program closes
(the license or registration is closed or terminated), your certificate
becomes invalid. If your program reopens (a new Child Development
Division program number
assigned), a new application must be submitted.
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STARS and National Accreditation
- What if I am already accredited?
- Why would I want to participate in STARS if I am already accredited?
- How are national accreditations, Head Start and STARS related?
- Which national accreditations are recognized in the STARS system?
- How does accreditation influence my STARS recognition level?
What if I am already accredited?
The Child Development Division understands the enormous effort you undertake
to achieve accreditation; therefore, a streamlined STARS application
has been developed for nationally accredited programs.
If you are accredited through NAFCC, NAA or NECPA you automatically qualify
for specific point levels in each arena. You are placed at the four-star
level if you:
• have been in business for five years
• are in good standing with Child Development
Division’s regulatory compliance unit
• include a copy of your accreditation award certificate and program
improvement plan with your STARS application
Licensed programs that achieve accreditation under the new NAEYC standards
as well as Head Start and Early Head Start child care centers that have
achieved Blue or Gold Certificates can enter the STARS program at the
five-star level (additional criteria may apply. Contact Learning Partners
for more information at Learningpartnrs@aol.com).
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Why would I want to participate in STARS if I am already accredited?
STARS providers are eligible to receive a variety of incentives based
on their recognition level. For example, four-star programs receive
a one-time bonus of $1,150 (five-star programs receive a bonus of $1,550)
in addition to the current Child Development Division system of $1,000
bonuses for accreditation, credentialing and renewals.
Promotion of STARS also adds to the public awareness of quality
indicators, and Vermont programs can be proud to have Vermont STARS and
be accredited. Five-star programs receive the bonus linked to tuition
reimbursement (subsidy) rate from the Vermont child care subsidy program
for services to income eligible children.
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How are national accreditations, Head
Start and STARS related?
Accreditation, Head Start and STARS performance standards are
all benchmarks of program quality. In general, programs documenting
information for the five STARS Arenas of Action will find that this documentation
supports accreditation as well. Because of this, programs can begin participating
in STARS before becoming accredited. Conversely, accredited programs
can provide documentation of their accreditation and participate in a
streamlined process to enroll in STARS.
STARS also includes special focus on regulatory history and
outreach to families and community.
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Which national accreditations are recognized
in STARS?
There are five national accreditations that are recognized by STARS.
Programs with these accreditations may use the streamlined application
process to become a STARS provider. They are:
• NAEYC (National Association for the Education of Young Children)
• NAA (National After School Association)
• NAFCC (National Association of Family Child Care)
• NECPA (National Early Childhood Program Accreditation)
• Head Start and Early Head Start child care programs that have achieved
Blue or Gold Certificates
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How does accreditation influence my STARS recognition level?
Programs accredited through NAFCC, NAA, and NECPA may enter STARS at
the four-star level if they:
• have been in business for five years
• are in good standing with the Regulatory Compliance Unit of the Child
Development Division
• include a copy of their accreditation award certificate and program
improvement plan with their STARS application
Some accredited programs will choose to provide some additional information and move to the five-star level.
Licensed programs that achieve accreditation under the new NAEYC standards
as well as Head Start and Early Head Start child care centers who have
achieved Blue or Gold Certificates can enter the STARS program at the
five-star level (additional criteria may apply. Contact Learning Partners
for more information at Learningpartnrs@aol.com).
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Provider Incentives
- Do providers receive incentives?
- How can providers become eligible to receive a Young Explorers Computer Learning Center donated by IBM in support of STARS?
Do providers receive incentives?
STARS providers are eligible to receive three different types of incentives:
a one-time incentive payment (per STARS recognition level), a bonus
linked to tuition reimbursement (subsidy) payment on an ongoing basis
through the Vermont Child Care Subsidy program, and an assortment of
special incentives set aside for STARS providers.
Providers receive a one-time financial incentive payment based on the number of stars earned. The incentive payments for accredited providers are in addition to the current Child Development Division system of $1,000 bonuses for accreditation, credentialing, and renewals.
The 2008 incentive payments are:
One Star - $250
Two Stars - $500
Three Stars - $1,000
Four Stars – $1,150
Five Stars - $1,550
In addition to a financial incentive, providers are eligible to receive a bonus linked to tuition reimbursement (subsidy) rate through the Vermont child care subsidy program.
The 2008 bonuses linked to tuition reimbursement (subsidy) rate are:
One Star - +4%
Two Stars - +8%
Three Stars - +12%
Four Stars - +17.5%
Five Stars - +20%
Recognized providers will be publicly acknowledged for their achievement
through a news release in their local community. STARS providers are also
given preference for facilities grants given by the Building Bright Spaces
for Bright Futures Facilities Panel. With three or more stars, providers
become eligible to receive a Young Explorers Computer Learning Center donated
by IBM in support of STARS.
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How can providers become eligible to receive a Young Explorers Computer
Learning Center
donated by IBM in support of STARS?
Providers need to indicate that they have adequate space to accommodate
the Computer Center and are willing to attend one to two days of training.
Training covers the technical aspects of using the equipment as well
as hands-on experience and support to help providers begin incorporating
the Computer Center into their curriculum. In addition, training includes
reflection and reporting on the strengths and challenges discovered during
the use of the Center. IBM has a partnership with Bank Street College
to develop appropriate curriculum to support young children using this resource.
Given this training, the Child Development Division and IBM will expect feedback from child care programs on how this resource has contributed to their program as well as suggestions for additional support or changes in the ways this resource is distributed and used in Vermont.
In the future, a Vermont “computer buddy mentors” system may be developed for providers. The goal would be for the mentors to share their knowledge with other child care providers in forums such as the regional conferences, the annual VAEYC conference, or through a listserv.Back • Top
