Look for the Stars — A Hallmark of Quality
What does it mean if your child care center is a Look for the Stars participant?
- Look for the Stars is a voluntary quality improvement system. By choosing to participate your child care provider has demonstrated a commitment to offering the highest quality early care and education to the children enrolled in its program.
- Research indicates that children who experience high-quality early care and education do better in school and achieve more success later in life.
What are the benefits to your child attending a Look for the Stars program?
A center participating in the Look for the Stars program:
- Understands that learning begins at birth.
- Offers a safe and nurturing environment that encourages children to have fun, hands-on learning experiences.
- Supports and promotes policies designed for quality improvement.
- Demonstrates a commitment to continued teacher training and professional development.
- Engages in ongoing assessment and improvement efforts.
- Earned a 4.0 or higher on their CLASS score.
How were the Star levels determined?
- The Look for the Stars level is determined by an assessment of the childcare environment and an evaluation of other program components.
- The Look for the Stars assessments were conducted by independent assessors. They are trained to use the assessment tool in a reliable and consistent way to measure the quality of childcare programs.
- Star levels are highly based on the CLASS scores for each age grouping in the program.
- The overall Star level is awarded based on the learning environment assessment and classroom interactions along with the following areas: curriculum and child assessment, and staff qualifications and professional development.
