The Tennessee Child Care Report Card and Star-Quality Programs
Background Information
In 2000 and 2001, Tennessee launched a broad program to improve child care. This program's goals are to give more information to parents and to improve the quality of child care in the state. This new program actually includes two programs, the Child Care Report Card Program and the Star-Quality Child Care Program.
The Child Care Report Card Program is required for all licensed and approved child care providers in Tennessee. During the process of renewing a license, the State evaluates a provider on several areas of quality. Family and Group Homes are evaluated on 5 areas and Child Care Centers on 7 areas. To learn more about this program, please read the Factsheet.
The Star-Quality Child Care Program, unlike the report card program, is voluntary. This program recognizes child care providers who meet a higher standard of quality. Once qualified for this program, providers can receive one, two, or three stars to place on their license. Each star shows that a provider meets increasingly higher standards. In other words, the more stars a program has, the better the quality of care it offers to children. [Read more about the Star-Quality Program.]
Both programs require a program assessment. This part of the licensing process is required for both Child Care Centers and for Family and Group Homes. An assessment (an on-site observation by a highly trained Assessor) evaluates many things. For example, it evaluates the interactions between the children and staff (to be sure that it is appropriate for the age of the children). It also examines the layout and use of space and rooms and looks at health and safety practices. It even makes sure that the program includes appropriate math, language, music, and art activities. For more information on assessments, see the All About Program Assessments page.
When a child care program receives its yearly license from DHS, it will receive a report card showing how it rated in specific areas and overall. (See the DHS site for example report cards.) Providers must post the report card for parents and visitors to see.
Providers who participate in the Star-Quality Child Care Program get a Star Report Card. It is more detailed and more colorful than the regular one. The Star Report Card lists every area that applies to the provider's program and the rating it earned in each one. It also shows the overall star rating—1, 2, or 3 stars. This Star Report Card lets parents know that the provider qualified for and is participating in the Star-Quality Child Care Program.
For more information about report cards, you can read the Tennessee Evaluation and Report Card program fact sheet [PDF] and the Star-Quality program fact sheet [PDF].
Program Updates
August 1, 2011, marks the beginning of program year 11 for the Tennessee Child Care Report Card and Star Quality Program. The start of a new program year is the desired time for changes and updates to the Additional Notes for Clarification to be made so that all providers will be assessed consistently across the state. Click here to read the most recently updated additional notes.
While assessing a program using the Environment Rating Scales, it may become necessary for the assessor to document some or parts of the observation using a digital camera and/or a digital audio recorder. Neither piece of equipment will be used without your knowledge as the provider will always be informed that the recorder is being turned on. In addition, no children will be photographed and the provider will be notified if any photographs are taken during the assessment. Digital cameras may be used to record observed safety issues, room arrangement, materials, etc. The digital audio recorder may be used to record the opening comments and/or during the teacher questions session.
Family and Group homes in Tennessee just completed their first program assessment using the new, revised spiral bound FCCERS scale, referred to as the Family Child Care Environment Rating Scale - Revised (FCCERS-R). As a part of the first year implementation plan the assessment staff have been completing follow-up phone calls with each Family/Group Home provider a few weeks after the completion of their annual assessment. These calls will not be made this year. However, any time a family provider (or center for that matter) has a question about their assessment either before or after it occurs, the assessment unit supervisor will welcome your call.
Many providers continue to participate in and experience the benefits of the PSAM program. PSAM stands for Provider Self-Assessment and Mentoring, and is a provider-driven service that the Child Care Resource and Referral (CCR&R) offers to support the enhancement of quality services for family providers and child care centers. To answer your questions and find out how you can participate in the program, contact your local CCR&R site. Click here for their locations and contact info. The PSAM grants are no longer available, although the PSAM training and technical assistance services are available and can be scheduled through your local CCR&R.
The CCR&R newsletters and training information will no longer be mailed to you electronically. Instead, you can sign up online to receive it. To sign up for this information, click here.
The website www.ParentsKnowKidsGrow.org has been established as a resource for parents, guardians, and others concerned about raising children, by providing resources and information about children’s safety, their well-being, and learning. The website is growing every day and covers such topics as finding the best child care, creating a safe-sleep environment, and childhood development. The site offers the latest research-based articles, videos and additional resources.