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Step-Up to Quality programs exceed Ohio’s child care licensing standards. Cllck here for a list of Step Up to Quality three star rated programs in our service area.

A Step Up To Quality Three Star rated program means that your child is in a program with:

• A level of quality achieved by less than 15% of all Star Rated programs.
• Lower group size in the infant room birth to 18 months old; lower ratios in the infant, toddler, preschool and schoolage classrooms. This means the teachers have more time to support your baby's individual development and learning. This is important because 85% of brain development occurs by the time your child is three years old and the number of words your child knows when they enter kindergarten is the single most important predictor of school success.
• The administrator and all lead teachers have a credential and/or a degree in early childhood education and at least 50% of assistant teachers have a CDA. This means that the administrator and teacher(s) have formal knowledge to support your child's development and learning. This is important because just like a doctor needs formal education, so do those working with young children. Working with young children is science - brain science.
• The administrator, all lead teachers and assistant teachers complete 10 hours of specialized training annually. This means that the administrator and teaching staff are committed to expanding their knowledge and skills to better support your child's development and learning. This ensures that early care and education professionals keep up to date with the ever changing knowledge base of their profession.
• Provides annual performance evaluations, professional development planning and at least three benefits (such as insurance, paid leave, tuition reimbursement etc.) to employees and a commitment to continuous improvement. This means the program is committed to continuous improvement. This is a place where employees are supported and treated professionally. This is important because good programs retain good teachers.
• Teachers screen children upon entry to the program and assess their progresson an on- going basis and utilize Ohio's Infant Toddler Guidelines, Ohio's Early Learning Content Standards and K-12 Standards in their curriculum planning. This means that your child's program uses research based information and your child's developmental profile on an ongoing basis. This is important because your child's teacher utilizes this information to plan experiences that best meets your child's individual development and learning needs.

Step Up To Quality programs are only eligible for a Star Rating if they have not had any serious risk licensing non-compliances at their last licensing visit. If this program were to have a serious risk non- compliance, their rating would be either suspended or removed based on the non-compliance.