OKDHS 'Reaching For The Stars' Program Showing Major Dividends

OKLAHOMA CAPITOL -- Newly released statistics show that Oklahoma's investment in child care is showing major dividends and that’s good news for the state’s preschoolers.
The Early Childhood Collaborative of Oklahoma (ECCO), a research partnership between the University of Oklahoma and Oklahoma State University, initiated the “Reaching For The Stars Center Validation Study,” a longitudinal research project. Early results from the study reveal that the quality of child care for all preschool-age children in Oklahoma Department of Human Services’ licensed centers is better today than in 1999.

Nancy vonBargen, director, Division of Child Care, OKDHS, said it is important for parents or caretakers of preschoolers to know that strides are being made as a result of OKDHS’ Stars program – a quality improvement initiative launched by OKDHS in February of 1998.

"Choosing quality child care may be the most important decision a parent or caretaker can make for their preschool-age children,” vonBargen said. “I want parents to use the tools available in making that decision, one of which is the Stars program. It is one more way for parents or caretakers to evaluate and choose quality child care.

“Stars criteria focus on those aspects of child care that make the biggest difference in quality. This research tells us that our criteria on teachers with higher educational qualifications, the learning environment and parental involvement have the greatest impact on the quality of care. As a result, centers at the higher two- and three-Star levels scored significantly higher on quality-rating scales.”

The report, funded by OKDHS, highlights findings from a sample of 336 child care centers from around the state taken during the fall and spring of 2001-2002. Possible scores ranged from 1-7 (with 1 representing inadequate, 3 representing minimal, 5 good and 7 excellent quality). Findings show that the quality of child care available to all preschool-age children is better today than in 1999, with the study’s Early Childhood Environment Rating Scale average rising from 1999’s score of 5.19 to 2002’s 5.75.

Another major finding showed that 80 percent of the preschool classrooms had global quality scores of 5 or higher (5 represents good to excellent care) and that most caregivers interact sensitively with children regardless of the Star level of their center. Additionally, the study states that many centers have raised their Star level since 1999 and staff turnover rates were lower in 2002 than in 2001.

vonBargen said the goal of Stars is to improve the quality of child care in Oklahoma, especially for children receiving child-care subsidies. Its enhanced quality criteria focus on improving staff education and training, compensation, learning environments, parental involvement and program evaluation.

“Stars is designed to encourage child care facilities to reach beyond regular licensing requirements in order to receive recognition and higher rates of reimbursement for the provision of child-care services,” vonBargen said.

Child care programs may earn one of four Star ratings. They include 1-Star, 1-Star Plus, 2-Star and 3-Star. The higher the Star rating a center holds, the higher the reimbursement rate received for children whose families receive child-care assistance.

Participation in the Stars program has grown steadily. During the last year, the number of 1-Star plus programs has increased from 973 to 1,254, 2-Star programs from 965 to 1,426, and 3-Star programs from 85 to 122. Today, 44 percent of licensed facilities, 62 percent of licensed slots and 86 percent of children receiving child-care subsidy are in child-care programs at the 1-Star plus or higher level.

“Stars is one of the first programs in the nation to establish levels of quality and provide the resources so that child-care providers can attain a higher Star level,” vonBargen said. “I believe much of the improvement can be attributed to Stars. I feel very proud we could provide the focus and resources to help child-care centers and homes provide better care.

“At OKDHS, we know child-care programs want to do the very best job they can, but often lack in opportunity and financial resources. Stars is helping to address these issues and assure that Oklahoma’s children and their parents have access to licensed, affordable and quality child care.”

OKDHS’ Division of Child Care manages the administration of the federal Child Care and Development Fund and the statewide licensing program that monitors child-care programs for compliance with minimum requirements. The “Reaching For The Stars Center Validation Study,” as well as information on locating child care, applying for child-care assistance, and how to contact OKDHS can be found at www.okdhs.org/childcare.

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