EDU 262

1. EDU 262 NC Star Rated Licensing

2. History • In September 2000, the Division issued star rated licenses to all eligible Child Care Centers and Family Child Care Homes. (Note: Religious-sponsored child care programs continued to operate with a Notice of Compliance and do not receive a star rating.) • 2005, the Division changed the way facilities earned stars in order to more accurately reflect indicators of a program’s quality. • Under the original star rated license, facilities were evaluated on three components: • Program Standards • Staff Education • Compliance History with Child Care Regulations

3. The new rules make a 75% “compliance history” a minimum standard for any licensed facility. Because it is now a minimum requirement, newly licensed facilities (and eventually all programs as they transition to the revised rated license) earn their star rating based only on the two components that give the best indication of quality: • Staff education • Program Standards • In addition, programs having a two component license can earn a “quality point” for meeting enhanced standards for staff education and program standards.

4. Why Star Rated Licenses? • North Carolina moved to this system in 2000 for many reasons. • It allows your child care program to be recognized for the higher quality care that you are already providing. • In the previous system your program's individual strengths were not highlighted.

5. How Points are Earned • When you apply for a star rated license a child care consultant will visit your program and evaluate each of the components: • 1.  Program Standards • 2.   Education Standards

6. Program Standards Child Care Centers must meet one or more of the following based on the number of points for which you are applying: • Have completed operating and personnel policies • Increase the number of activity areas in classrooms • Higher square footage per classroom • Reducing staff child ratios • Have good or specified scores from an environment rating scale assessment

7. Education Standards • The number of points you earn in education standards is based on the education level of all of your staff. • The Division's staff will evaluate transcripts to determine the number of semester hours that can be counted towards the higher levels in this component.

8. Education Standards • To earn more than one point: • The administrator and all lead teachers must have completed their credential requirements • A certain percentage of staff must have extra semester hours and/or child care experience

9. Education Standards • You will earn more points if more staff have completed early childhood coursework and have more experience working with children. For example, at the highest level in Education Standards, five points are earned if: • The administrator has a Level III NC Administration Credential or equivalent, and experience • 75% of lead teachers have at least an associate's degree in Early Childhood and experience • 50% of teachers have completed their NC Early Childhood Credential or equivalent, and have additional coursework as well as experience • School age staff have completed school age coursework, Basic School Age Training, and have experience working with school age children

10. How Do Points Determine Star Ratings? • In order to achieve a two- through five-star rating, for a two component license the minimum score achieved must be at least four points as follows:

11. Example • A program scores 4 points in program standards and 4 points in education standards, and 1 quality point. • The total is 4 + 4 + 1 = 9 points. • The program would get a three-star rating under the two component system.

12. Example

14. Frequently Asked Questions • What is the cost to apply for a higher license? • There is no cost to apply for a star rated license. If you are having an Environment Rating Scale Assessment completed (to earn more points in the area of program standards), you will receive one free assessment every three years. • If you re-apply for a higher star rated license and request to have the rating scale done again before the three year period has elapsed, you will be charged for the rating scale assessment on a per classroom basis.

15. How long do I have to wait to apply for a higher star rated license? • If your current star rating is one star, you can apply for a higher license at any time. • If you hold a 2-5 star rated license, then you must wait at least six months from the effective date of your current license before reapplying.

16. What is the process for applying for a 2-5 star rated license? • Please contact your child care consultant or a Division customer service representative at 1.800.859.0829 to request an application packet. • Once you've completed the application, mail it to your child care consultant and a visit will be made to evaluate your program.

17. NC Child Care Requirements 10A NCAC 09 .2802 APPLICATION FOR A VOLUNTARY RATED LICENSE (a) After a licensed child care center or home has been in operation for a minimum of six consecutive months, the procedures in this Rule apply to request an initial two- through five-star rated license or to request that a rating be changed to a two- through five-star rated license. (b) The operator shall submit a completed application to the Division for a voluntary rated license on theform provided by the Division.

18. (c) An operator may apply for a star rating based on the total number of points achieved for each component of the voluntary rated license. In order to achieve a two- through five-star rating, for a two component license the minimum score achieved must be a least four points as follows: TOTAL NUMBER OF POINTS RATING 4 through 6 Two Stars 7 through 9 Three Stars 10 through 12 Four Stars 13 through 15 Five Stars (d) Facilities with a four or five-star rated license that are licensed to serve four-year-old children must implement a curriculum as defined in 10A NCAC 09 .0102 with their four year olds. This requirement must be met in any licensed child care facility.

19. (e) A Division representative shall assess the facility requesting a voluntary rated license to determine if all applicable requirements have been met to achieve the score for the requested star rating. The assessment may include a review of Division records and site visits. (f) The Division shall provide for Infant/Toddler Environment Rating Scale Revised Edition, Early Childhood Environment Rating Scale - Revised Edition, School-Age Care Environment Rating Scale, or Family Child Care Environment Rating Scale - Revised Edition assessments to be completed, as appropriate for the program, free of charge to operators requesting an initial three or more points for program standards.

20. (g) Upon completion of the Division's assessment: (1) If the assessment indicates all the applicable requirements to achieve the score for the requested rating have been met, the Division shall issue the rating (2) If the assessment indicates all the applicable requirements to achieve the score for the requested rating are not met, the Division shall notify the operator of the requirements that were not met and the requested voluntary rating shall not be issued. The operator may: (A) Accept the rating for which the Division has found the operator to be eligible; (B) Withdraw the request and reapply when the identified requirements to achieve the score for the requested rating have been met; or (C) Appeal the denial of the requested rating as provided in G.S. 110-94.