A: The State of Ohio has established a five-star rating system called Step Up To Quality (or SUTQ) for programs offered by licensed early learning and child care providers, including those in school districts, daycares, and family homes. Step Up To Quality promotes standards that go beyond the health and safety requirements of licensing and are proven to improve outcomes for children. SUTQ is a clear way to evaluate suppliers and lead them to measurable long-term success. Step Up to Quality is the primary way to look at learning and development programs to see if teachers are effectively preparing children for kindergarten. A program must achieve a rating of at least three stars to be considered quality, with outstanding programs receiving four or five stars. The Early Years Resource Centre offers many paths to a star. These pathways include: Step Up To Quality (SUTQ) is a five-star quality assessment and improvement system administered by the Ohio Department of Education and the Ohio Department of Employment and Family Services. As of September 1, 2020, all child care programs that wanted to offer publicly funded child care were required to be rated stars. By July 1, 2025, all Type A centres and homes wishing to provide publicly funded child care must have a rating of 3, 4 or 5 stars.
SUTQ SOS (Systems of Success) sessions are available for programs that have a high number of Severe and Moderate Risk Points based on licence inspections, are at risk of losing a star rating, and need help building systems to minimize the likelihood of Severe and Medium Risk Points. Licensed employees of Ohio Employment and Family Services are included in the initial session to deliver Building a Quality Program training and answer technical questions about licensing. Three other working sessions focus on the development of individual program success systems to identify and prevent licence violations, with a focus on strategies from the Employment and Family Services System Guides. Opportunities we`ve had beyond the three-star rating include: The exam follows a specific rubric. Daycares receive a star if they are looking for a program that meets the state`s standards for early learning. A second star can be earned once the program is purchased and staff are trained. If the program is used in the classroom, the center can get three stars. To go beyond three stars, a center must go further in providing quality. Previously, participation in SUTQ was voluntary, but beginning July 1, 2020, Ohio will require centers that receive publicly funded students, including those that host publicly funded students, to be evaluated. Step Up to Quality (SUTQ) is an evaluation and improvement system overseen by the Ohio Department of Education and the Ohio Department of Employment and Family Services. This system recognizes and encourages learning and development programs that exceed regulatory health and safety regulations with a five-star quality rating.
One. You may not meet the state`s mandate if your program is not rated stars by September 1, 2020. This means that your program will no longer receive government grants and your program could suffer financially without this government funding. More importantly, families who deserve quality lose an important source of child care, without which parents could lose their ability to go to work and provide for their families with a living wage. One. If you want to increase your star rating, you must meet additional criteria set by the state. A detailed explanation of the criteria can be found here, and Action for Children is happy to guide you on what you can do next. SUTQ 101 sessions focus on individual and small cohort technical support sessions offered at early stage licensing programs and unrated programs designed to serve publicly funded children. SUTQ 101 is designed to include four working sessions and at least one on-site program visit. SUTQ 101 prepares programs to register for an initial star rating.
Work sessions include reviewing program standards, helping to understand forms, introducing topics such as lesson planning and early learning development standards, entering information into the Ohio Child Care Licensing and Quality System (OCLQS), navigating the Ohio Professional Registry and understanding how serious and moderate risk violations affect participation in Step Up to Quality. Our SUTQ Success Program is designed to break down a seemingly overwhelming process of meeting state quality standards into incremental performance towards your star rating. It includes thoughtful technical support, professional development and tailored support. SUTQ 103 sessions are designed to support programs individually or in small cohorts aimed at achieving a higher star rating. This program was created to prepare the programs through four working sessions and a final site visit. SUTQ 103 is designed to work with the program administrator and teachers. As part of each session, the program receives instructions for administrators and class teachers. Working sessions include review of program self-assessment, lesson planning, professional development plans, and early learning development standards. The working sessions then present programs on topics such as classroom self-assessments, curricula, child assessments, screenings, children`s portfolios, teacher observations, community partner strengthening, and transitions.
Specialists target programs that are currently rated 1-2 stars. Once programs are identified, their individual needs are assessed to contribute to the creation of sustainable systems. Step Up To Quality (SUTQ) is a quality assessment and grading system for early learning and development programs. Participating programs receive a one-, two-, three-, four-, or five-star rating by meeting Ohio quality standards. 4C for Children is the leading agency in southwest Ohio and the Miami Valley that supports early childhood professionals and SUTQ. If you want to earn your first star or increase your current star count, we can help! Star programs that provide publicly funded child care receive additional funding based on their ratings. This additional funding represents a percentage of their base salary for publicly funded child care. Check out this ODJFS tool that helps programs estimate the weekly and annual payments they could potentially receive for each star rating they get. SUTQ 102 sessions focus on the Step up to Quality star renewal process for individuals and small cohorts. SUTQ 102 is designed to support programs during a working session. The working session includes reviewing the one-star document, conducting the program self-assessment, reviewing lesson plans and standards for early learning development. Assistance in entering information into the Ohio Child Care Quality and Licensing System (OCLQS) is the final step in this process.
Thanks to our high grades, you can be sure that we are providing the right preschool environment to help your children develop the social, emotional, critical and physical skills that will help them improve in school and throughout life.