Library: Policy

340:110-1-8.11. Additional four-and five-star criteria

Issued 6-1-22

(a) Center criteria.  Centers accredited by a Child Care Services (CCS)-approved national accrediting organization or a Head Start grantee and compliant with Head Start Program Performance Standards complete (1) of this subsection.  All other programs complete (1) and (2) of this subsection.

(1) Additional four- and five-star center professional development criteria.  Professional development criteria in this subsection are required for centers.  Four-star centers implement one additional professional development criteria, and five-star centers implement two additional professional development criteria.

(A) The director obtains three college credits or 40-clock hours of job-related professional development annually, per Professional Development Ladder (PDL) certification year.

(B) The director has a current gold or higher level certificate, per Oklahoma Director's Credential.

(C) The director obtains at least one additional certification, such as:

(i) Director's Leadership Academy;

(ii) Oklahoma Director's Certificate of Mastery;

(iii) National Administrator Credential;

(iv) Director's Advanced Training;

(v) Oklahoma Director's Certificate of Completion; or

(vi) Oklahoma Director's Pathway to Program Administration.

(D) Required number of master teachers obtain two college credits or 30-clock hours of job-related professional development annually, per PDL certification year.

(E) The program utilizes ongoing, evidence-based classroom coaching.

(F) Director and required number of master teachers complete all Pyramid Model Infant/Toddler, Preschool, or Birth to Five modules.

(2) Additional four- and five-star center program criteria.  Four-star centers implement three program criteria, and five-star centers implement five program criteria.  Out-of-school time four-star centers implement two program criteria, and five-star out-of-school time centers implement three program criteria.

(A) Curriculum coordinator.  The center utilizes a curriculum coordinator assisting with lesson plan implementation and mentoring classroom teachers.  Curriculum coordinators may be assigned other program responsibilities.

(B) Family orientation.  The center conducts a formal intake process for new families, and the process is addressed in the parent policy.  Four-star centers implement one program criteria, and five-star centers implement (A) and (B) of this paragraph.  Family orientation includes:

(i) parent orientation; and

(ii) child orientation to teaching personnel, classroom, and routine.

(C) Family partnership.  The center implements a written process involving families in children's education and development.  Family partnership examples may include:

(i) participation on family advisory board;

(ii) volunteering in classroom; or

(iii) program-conducted home visits at least twice annually.

(D) Continuity of care.  A written plan ensures children 3 years of age and younger are placed with consistent teaching personnel for at least one year, promoting stronger personnel and child relationships.

(E) Child learning assessment.  Programs implement child learning assessment and document children's progress annually.

(F) Health and safety.  Four-star centers implement two health and safety criteria, and five-star centers implement four criteria.  The program:

(i) utilizes a health consultant as needed;

(ii) implements daily playground safety checklists;

(iii) conducts annual personnel emergency plan and procedure training;

(iv) participates in Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) or National School Lunch Program (NSLP);

(v) obtains quality initiative certifications, such as Oklahoma State Department of Health Certified Healthy Early Childhood Program; or

(vi) collaborates with schools, with parental permission, regarding individual children's health and wellness, such as developmental screenings and individualized educational plans (IEP).

(G) Child developmental assessment.  Programs offer evidence-based child developmental assessments or screenings by trained personnel.  Programs communicate results with families, and provide referral information when indicated.

(b) Home criteria.  Homes accredited by a CCS-approved national accrediting organization complete (1) of this subsection.  All other programs complete (1) and (2) of this subsection.

(1) Additional four- and five-star home professional development.  Professional development criteria in this subsection are required for homes.  Four-star homes implement one additional professional development criteria, and five-star homes implement two additional professional development criteria.

(A) The primary caregiver maintains a current PDL Level 5 or higher.

(B) The primary caregiver obtains two college credits or 30-clock hours of job-related professional development annually, per PDL certification year.

(C) The primary caregiver completes Family Child Care Home Leadership Academy.

(D) The assistant caregiver obtains two college credits or 30-clock hours of job- related professional development annually, per PDL certification year.

(E) The program utilizes ongoing, evidence-based coaching to caregiving practices.

(F) The primary caregiver completes all Pyramid Model Infant/Toddler, Preschool, or Birth to Five modules.

(2) Additional four- and five-star home criteria.  Homes implement additional program criteria.

(A) Family orientation.  The program conducts a formal intake process for new families.  Four-star homes implement one family orientation criteria, and five-star programs implement (i) and (ii) of this subparagraph.  Family orientation includes:

(i) parent orientation; and

(ii) child orientation to caregiver, home, and routine.

(B) Health and safety.  Four-star homes implement two health and safety criteria, and five-star homes implement four criteria.  The program:

(i) offers evidence-based developmental assessments or screenings by trained personnel.  The program communicates results with families, and provides referral information when indicated;

(ii) utilizes a health consultant as needed;

(iii) implements daily playground safety checklists;

(iv) conducts annual personnel emergency plan and procedure training, when applicable;

(v) participates in CACFP;

(vi) obtains quality initiative certifications, such as Oklahoma State Department of Health Certified Healthy Early Childhood Program; or

(vii) collaborates with schools, with parental permission, regarding individual children's health and wellness, such as developmental screenings and IEPs.