Delaware Stars promotes high quality early care for young children. Programs can earn up to five stars. Each Star reflects the hard work a program has done to teach and care for children. The Stars quality rating can help guide families seeking the best program for their child.
What is Delaware Stars for Early Success?
Delaware Stars for Early Success is a Quality Rating and Improvement System (QRIS). A QRIS is used to assess, improve and communicate the level of quality in early care and education and school-age settings. Participation in Delaware Stars is voluntary and demonstrates a program’s commitment to continuous quality improvement. Delaware Stars is a five-tiered rating system. Programs begin with “Starting with Stars,” and then are rated at a Star Level 2 through 5.
Descriptions of Star levels
Ratings for Delaware Stars are based on successful verification that the program meets high-quality standards in four areas: Family and Community Partnerships, Qualifications and Professional Development, Management and Administration, and Learning Environment and Curriculum (this includes a formal assessment of classrooms in each age group using the Environment Rating Scales or ERS. The ERS is an internationally recognized valid and reliable observational tool used in research and evaluation).
Alternative Pathways
For more information, visit: http://www.delawarestars.udel.edu/
Tiered Reimbursement Program
Tiered Reimbursement Program is a separate payment made monthly by the Delaware Department of Education (DOE) to Delaware Stars providers with a level of 3, 4 or 5 who accept POC. The reimbursement rate is determined by the type of program, county, children’s age, and the Delaware Star level.
http://www.delawarestars.udel.edu/tiered-reimbursement/
Accreditation is another way a child care provider communicates the quality of their program. In order to become accredited by an agency child care providers are evaluated according to the agency’s set of rules. Some child care providers in Delaware are accredited by the following agencies. Visit their websites for more information on the rules and process for becoming accredited.