Revised October 27, 2011 Page 1 of 6

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1 Keystne STARS Accreditatin Applicatin Philsphy The Keystne STARS prgram is Pennsylvania s QRIS which began in There are fur quality levels frm STAR 1 t STAR 4, each level building n the prir levels; this type f quality system is ften described as a blck system. Keystne STARS leverages and attempts t nt duplicate indicatrs fund in assciated standards such as certificatin (licensing) r Envirnment Rating Scales (ERS). In mst QRIS, accreditatin is included as a measure f quality fr ratings. In sme states, accreditatin stands in fr a rating in the quality system and n further evidence f quality is required. In ther states accreditatin is required t meet the highest level in the QRIS. In Pennsylvania, accepted accreditatin prgrams include several STAR 4 Keystne STAR standards and als ften incrprate additinal quality standards. Keystne STARS requires accredited prgrams t demnstrate nt nly verificatin f their current accreditatin status but shw evidence that the prgram meets additinal specific Keystne STAR standards. Belw are the additinal standards frm the Center Based (and Schl Age), and Family Keystne STARS Standards 2011/2012. Fr mre infrmatin n the Keystne STARS Standards, refer t the link belw. Keystne STARS Standards - Center Directr Develpment 1. Annually participate in 3 prfessinal grwth and develpment activities annual clck hurs f prfessinal develpment based n the Prfessinal Develpment Recrd (PDR), including the Directr s sectin. Staff Develpment 1. Fr each Teacher/Assistant Teacher, 24 annual clck hurs f prfessinal develpment based n PDR; each Aide 15 clck hurs based n PDR. 2. Annually, all staff invlved in 2 prfessinal grwth and develpment activities. Child Observatin/Curriculum/Assessment 1. All demgraphic infrmatin, including prgram and staff infrmatin, is recrded accurately and timely in the Early Learning Netwrk (ELN). Fr infants, tddlers and preschlers, child and family demgraphics are entered accurately and timely in ELN and child utcme data is reprted electrnically using a valid, recgnized authentic assessment. Envirnment Rating 1. The average facility scre f all sampled classrms/age grups assessed by a STARS ERS assessr must be a Each individual sampled classrm/age grup must have an ERS scre n less than A written Imprvement Plan is develped t address any ERS subscale scre belw a Cntinuus Quality Imprvement 1. Prvider develps a Cntinuus Quality Imprvement Plan using multiple surces. 2. A Strategic Plan is aligned with the prgram s missin statement and put in place. Revised Octber 27, 2011 Page 1 f 6

2 Keystne STARS Standards Family Child Care Hmes Primary Staff Persn/Owner Operatr Qualificatins 1. Cmplete prfessinal develpment n the Cre Bdy f Knwledge/ Prfessinal Develpment Recrd (CBK/PDR) and FCCERS. 2. Cmplete prfessinal develpment n Cntinuus Quality Imprvement (CQI) and the Learning Standards. 3. Cmplete Family Child Care Hme STARS Orientatin Part 2. Primary Staff Persn/Owner Operatr Develpment 1. Annually participate in 2 prfessinal grwth and develpment activities annual clck hurs f prfessinal develpment based n the PDR. Secndary Staff/Substitutes and Assistants Develpment annual clck hurs f prfessinal develpment based n the PDR, taken by each staff member. Child Observatin/Curriculum/Assessment 1. All demgraphic infrmatin, including prgram and staff infrmatin, is recrded accurately and timely in the Early Learning Netwrk (ELN). Fr infants, tddlers and preschlers, child and family demgraphics are entered accurately and timely in ELN and child utcme data is reprted electrnically using a valid, recgnized authentic assessment. Envirnment Rating 1. A FCCERS-R assessment by a STARS ERS assessr must average a scre f A written Imprvement Plan is develped t address any ERS subscale scre belw a Cntinuus Quality Imprvement 1. Prvider develps a Cntinuus Quality Imprvement Plan using multiple surces. The Keystne STARS prgram leverages high quality accreditatin systems by using the supprts, mnitring and tls prvided in thse systems t assist prgrams in Pennsylvania in reaching higher levels f cmprehensive quality. Accreditatin Cmmittee The accreditatin cmmittee s review panel cnsists f a representative frm Office f Child Develpment and Early Learning (OCDEL), a representative frm the PA Key, and a third member frm an rganizatin (such as higher educatin, a Reginal Key, r a cmmunity rganizatin) wh has substantive expertise in early childhd educatin and quality imprvement. The cmmittee s rle is t review applicatins and make recmmendatins t OCDEL within 60 days f receipt f an applicatin. OCDEL s deputy secretary will review the recmmendatins f the cmmittee and will make the final decisin and transmit this, in writing, t the applicant. Criteria All accrediting institutins applying t be a Recgnized Accrediting Organizatin under the OCDEL Keystne STARS prgram must satisfactrily meet all f the criteria listed belw. Applicatins must describe hw they meet the criteria listed belw and submit supprting dcumentatin: Revised Octber 27, 2011 Page 2 f 6

3 Criteria I: Fiscal and Administrative Capability fr Administering an Accrediting Prcess (5 pages maximum) A. Demnstrated fiscal and administrative capability Describe in sufficient detail the rganizatinal capacity fr administering an accreditatin prgram (supprt dcuments may be included such as the mst recent audit r annual financial reprt, current perating budget, rganizatinal chart, staff resurces, jb descriptins, etc.) Submit dcuments as an appendix. B. A natinally established prgram A natinally established accreditatin prgram must be established fr at least 3 years and versee accredited prgram in multiple states. Dcument hw lng the prgram has been in existence, the number f accreditatin visits cnducted and the number f currently accredited prgrams natinally and in Pennsylvania. C. Verifiable, public listing f accredited prgrams Indicate hw and where the accrediting bdy maintains a verifiable, current, public listing f accredited prgrams. Criteria II: Administrative Plicies and System Evaluatin Prcedures (10 pages maximum) Describe the administrative plicies and system evaluatin capacity f the administering agency including the fllwing cmpnents: A. Administrative Plicies Administrative plicies and system evaluatin prcedures are in place t avid cnflicts f interest and address issues such as deferred status, withdrawal f accreditatin, appeal prcesses, and cmplaints. B. Validatin/Assessment Describe the academic qualificatins and frmal training requirements f the applicant s staff by the accrediting grup. C. Cntinuus Imprvement/Quality Assurance Peer-reviewers, training prcedures, and instruments used in the prcess are evaluated fr reliability and validity. Describe prcess and frequency. Criteria III: Accreditatin Prcess (15 pages maximum) Describe the accreditatin prcess including the fllwing cmpnents: A. Self-Evaluatin Accreditatin prgram has a cmprehensive self-evaluatin that includes parents, staff, and prgram administratrs, and that prmtes prgram imprvement. Describe. Revised Octber 27, 2011 Page 3 f 6

4 B. On-site prgram review Describe the review prcess (prgram and administrative) including n-site reviews f prgrams applying fr accreditatin. C. Decisin prcess Accreditatin decisin made by experts in the field after a review f all dcumentatin, and based n bundaries and criteria established by the rganizatin fr the guidance f these experts. D. Award perid Describe the length f the award perid and the prcess fr interim accuntability t ensure maintenance f high quality standards. Be sure t include frequency f interim prgram reprts, cntent f the reprts, prcess fr turnver, etc. Criteria IV: Institutin s Standards fr Early Learning Prgrams r Schl- Age/Afterschl Prgrams A. Crsswalk f accreditatin standards Prvide a crsswalk f the accreditatin standards with applicable Keystne STARS Standards n the chart prvided in Attachment A. The crsswalk demnstrates hw the accreditatin standards address the categries defined in Keystne STARS. Als, illustrate hw the accreditatin standards might address additinal areas. Highlight in yellw areas where the accreditatin standard des nt meet the Keystne STARS standard r write Nt Cvered and highlight in yellw where the accreditatin prgram des nt have a similar standard. At the bttm f the chart, list areas cvered in the accreditatin which des nt have a similar Keystne STAR standard. Utilize the Family r Center (includes schl-age) standards as a reference guide. See Attachment A: Accreditatin Crsswalk with Keystne STARS Standards B. Research base Prgram standards must be evidence-based and peridically updated. Prvide infrmatin abut the research basis fr the accreditatin standards, the review cycle f the standards and the date f the latest accreditatin standards update. Als prvide citatins and summary f recently published research n the accreditatin. C. Validatin All accrediting institutins applying t be a Recgnized Accrediting Organizatin under the OCDEL Keystne STARS prgram must submit a validatin study research brief. This brief must use empirical evidence t validate the accreditatin using a recgnized benchmark f prgram quality, such as Keystne STAR level, ther accreditatin system, ERS assessment scres, CLASS assessment scres, r any f the specific Keystne STAR standards. Research Base Validatin must be met in rder fr institutin t be recgnized as an accrediting agency by Keystne STARS. At a minimum, the research shuld present quantitative evidence that accreditatin measures are strngly related t the apprved criterin measures. Describe the methds, analysis, and findings f the research. Revised Octber 27, 2011 Page 4 f 6

5 Depending n availability f data, research might include statistical crrelatins, dds ratis, r predictive mdels t establish a rbust picture f the relatinships being examined. In as much as pssible, the sample shuld be representative f current PA children and prviders. The accreditatin and data cllectin prcess must be apprpriately blinded t the research bjectives. While the research methdlgy is nt prescribed, it must be apprved and shuld cntain: Recently published research n the accreditatin Cntext f the study as backgrund: characteristics f prviders (prvider type, center size, etc), blind study, etc. Narrative regarding data cllectin methdlgies and prtcls Research findings Fr Questins, cntact: OCDEL- Bureau f Early Learning Services Catherine Crmany ccrmany@state.pa.us r (717) Submit Accreditatin Packet t: Catherine Crmany - Chief OCDEL - Bureau f Early Learning Services 333 Market Street Harristwn II, 6 th Flr Harrisburg, PA Revised Octber 27, 2011 Page 5 f 6

6 Keystne STARS Accreditatin Applicatin Cver Sheet Include the fllwing infrmatin as a cver sheet t the applicatin fr accreditatin recgnitin in Keystne STARS. Applicatin Infrmatin Name f Accrediting Prgram Phne Number Name f Assciatin Submitting Applicatin Address City State Zip Name f Persn Submitting Applicatin Title Date Cntact Infrmatin: If different frm abve, indicate wh shuld be cntact regarding any fllw-up questins. Name f Cntact Persn Phne Number Address City State Zip Area f Specializatin: Please select all that apply Facility based Birth 5 yrs Schl based K-12 Family Child Care Hme Afterschl/Schl-age Other Revised Octber 27, 2011 Page 6 f 6