Navigating the landscape of child care quality can be complex, especially when understanding program requirements and participation. For child care providers in Kentucky, Kentucky All STARS is a significant program focused on enhancing the quality of early childhood education. A common question among providers is: is KY All STARS child care program required? This article will clarify the participation requirements for Kentucky All STARS, outline its benefits, and guide providers on how to engage with this valuable program.
Understanding Kentucky All STARS and KICCS
Kentucky All STARS is the state’s Quality Rating and Improvement System (QRIS). It is designed to assess, improve, and communicate the level of quality in early care and education programs. The program is now integrated with the Kentucky Integrated Child Care System (KICCS) Provider Portal. This integration streamlines administrative tasks for providers, allowing them to submit All STARS-related forms and documentation directly through the portal. KICCS also provides a centralized platform to view All STARS correspondence from the Division of Child Care, access program history, and review Environmental Rating Scale (ERS) reports. Crucially, all new applications for achieving higher quality ratings in All STARS must be submitted through KICCS, as paper and email submissions are no longer accepted.
For those new to the system or seeking more information, the KICCS Launch Page provides access to the All STARS User Guide and further details about the portal’s functionalities.
Is Participation in KY All STARS Mandatory?
The question of mandatory participation in Kentucky All STARS has different facets depending on the type of child care provider and their circumstances.
Automatic Enrollment and Required Participation:
- Level 1 Enrollment: Licensed Type I and Type II child care centers, along with certified family child care homes, are automatically enrolled in Kentucky All STARS at Level 1. This automatic enrollment establishes a baseline participation for licensed and certified providers.
- Public Assistance Requirement: For programs that accept public assistance, participation in Kentucky All STARS is required. This mandate ensures that programs receiving public funds meet a certain standard of quality and are actively engaged in quality improvement.
- Preliminary License Programs: Programs operating with a preliminary license are limited to participation at Level 1.
Voluntary Participation for Higher Quality:
While Level 1 enrollment is automatic for many and required for programs accepting public assistance, achieving higher quality ratings (Levels 2-5) is generally voluntary. Providers who aspire to enhance their program quality and gain recognition for exceeding basic licensing standards actively pursue higher levels within Kentucky All STARS.
Benefits of Pursuing Higher Quality in KY All STARS
Even though reaching for Levels 2-5 is often voluntary, there are significant advantages to participating in Kentucky All STARS beyond just meeting basic requirements:
- Technical Assistance and Coaching: Providers aiming for higher quality have access to valuable technical assistance.
- Child Care Aware Health and Safety Coaches: New licensed Type I providers seeking to apply for higher quality can connect with Child Care Aware health and safety coaches. Current Level 2-5 licensed Type I providers also benefit from quality coaching and practice observations provided by Child Care Aware quality coaches to prepare for rating visits.
- Family Child Care Network Specialists: Licensed Type II providers and certified family child care homes can access Family Child Care Network specialists for guidance in applying for higher quality and for quality coaching and practice observations.
- Monetary Incentives and Awards: Kentucky All STARS offers financial incentives to recognize and support quality improvements.
- Initial Achievement and Annual Quality Awards: Providers at Levels 2-5 are eligible for both initial achievement awards upon reaching a new level and annual quality awards to sustain their quality standards.
- Subsidy Enrollment Awards: Providers achieving Levels 3-5 also qualify for subsidy enrollment awards, further supporting their financial stability and ability to serve families receiving child care assistance. (Refer to the chart of All STARS monetary incentives for detailed information on available funding and award amounts, contingent upon funding availability.)
- Quality Improvement and Recognition: Participation in Kentucky All STARS provides a framework for continuous quality improvement. The program offers resources, feedback, and recognition that can help programs enhance their practices, create better learning environments for children, and demonstrate their commitment to excellence to parents and the community.
Applying for Higher Quality Ratings
Providers ready to pursue higher quality ratings within Kentucky All STARS utilize the KICCS Provider Portal to initiate the application process.
Key Steps and Resources:
- DCC-432 Standards of Quality Verification Checklist: This checklist, accessible through the KICCS Provider Portal, is essential for providers to self-assess and submit verification of meeting quality standards. (Available in English and Spanish). Providers are encouraged to consult with their assigned coach for assistance in completing this form. Requests for Environmental Rating Scale (ERS) visits are also initiated through this form.
- Standards of Quality Submission Guide: This guide (available at [/agencies/dcbs/dcc/Documents/standardsofqualitysubmissionguide.pdf]) assists providers in compiling necessary evidence documentation to support their DCC-432 checklist submission. While valuable for preparation, direct engagement with a quality coach is strongly recommended.
- Environmental Rating Scales (ERS): For providers seeking Level 3 or higher, an environmental observation visit by a Cabinet-approved rater is required. The ERS tools used include:
- Infant/Toddler Environment Rating Scale-Revised (ITERS-R)
- Early Childhood Environment Rating Scale-Revised (ECERS-R) (Note: As of Aug. 1, 2018, the Division of Child Care transitioned to the ECERS-3 for early childhood ratings.)
- School-Age Care Environment Rating Scale-Updated (SACERS-U)
- Family Child Care Environment Rating Scale-Revised (FCCERS-R)
- Level 3 programs have no minimum score requirement, while Level 4 requires a minimum score of 4.0 in each classroom, and Level 5 requires a minimum of 5.0 per classroom.
To schedule an ERS visit, providers must complete the DCC-432 Standards Verification Checklist within KICCS and indicate their request for a rating visit. For any questions regarding pending rating visits, the Division of Child Care can be contacted via email at [email protected].
Appeals Process
In situations where the Cabinet determines that a provider does not meet the standards for their certified STARS level, providers have the option to accept a lower rating or submit an appeal. For detailed information regarding the appeals process, providers can contact the Division of Child Care via email at [email protected] or by phone at toll-free (844) 209-2657.
Conclusion
In summary, while automatic enrollment in Kentucky All STARS Level 1 and mandatory participation for programs accepting public assistance exist, the pursuit of higher quality levels is largely a voluntary pathway for Kentucky child care providers. However, the benefits of engaging with Kentucky All STARS, including access to technical assistance, financial incentives, and quality recognition, make it a highly valuable program for those committed to providing excellent early childhood education. By utilizing the KICCS Provider Portal and engaging with available coaching resources, providers can effectively navigate the Kentucky All STARS program and elevate the quality of their services for Kentucky’s children.
