site map  |  search site  |  contact us  |  disclaimer
	Regional Keys (hover mouse over region for contact information) Central Central Regional Key 2138 Lincoln Street Williamsport, PA 17701 Ph: 800-346-3020 Fax: 570-323-7510 John LaRose, Director Northeast Northeast Regional Key 1520 Hanover Avenue Allentown, PA 18109 Ph: 800-528-7222 Fax: 610-437-6500 Raine Neal, Director Northwest Northwest Regional Key 3823 West 12th Street Erie, PA 16505 Ph: 800-860-2281 Fax: 814-836-9615 Darlene Hamilton, Director PA Key Pennsylvania Key 301 Market Street, 8th Floor Harrisburg, PA 17101 Ph: 800-284-6031 Fax: 717-213-0585 Gail Nourse, Director South Central South Central Regional Key 13 West Market Street York, PA 17401 Ph: 800-864-4925 Fax: 717-843-4158 Maureen Murphy, Director Southeast Southeast Regional Key 1500 S. Columbus Blvd, 2nd Floor Philadelphia, PA 19147 Ph: 877-660-2273 Fax: 215-271-1607 Debra Lawrence, Director Southwest Southwest Regional Key 305 Wood Street Pittsburgh, PA 15222 Ph: 877-349-4850 Fax: 412-255-1178 Nedra Perkins, Director

 

Login to Intranet
E-mail Address 

Password 


Other Login Options

Welcome to Keystone STARS!

• STARS Advisory Committee Minutes - January 11, 2008 (PDF)
• Summary of 2007 STARS Advisory Listening Tours - PDF
• Child Care Works Subsidy Add-on for Keystone STARS programs
• New STARS Awards for 07-08

STARS stands for Standards, Training/Professional Development, Assistance, Resources, and Support

Keystone STARS:  Improving the quality through

• Standards
• Training/Professional Development
• Assistance,
• Resources and
• Support

Keystone STARS is an initiative of the Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) to improve, support, and recognize the continuous quality improvement efforts of early learning programs in Pennsylvania. 

The Keystone STARS Performance Standards provide the foundation for the program.  The Performance Standards are grouped into four levels:  STAR 1, STAR 2, STAR 3, and STAR 4.  Each level builds on the previous level and utilizes research-based best practices to promote quality early learning environments and positive child outcomes.  The standards address staff qualifications and professional development, the early learning program, partnerships with family and community, and leadership and management. 

Keystone STARS is managed through a partnership of the Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) and the Pennsylvania and Regional Keys.

Child Care Works Subsidy Add-on for Keystone STARS programs

As part of OCDEL’s commitment to continuous quality improvement in early learning, child care programs participating in Keystone STARS at the STAR 2 level or above will receive a subsidy add-on for every child they serve that is enrolled in Child Care Works, effective September 1, 2007.

This subsidy add-on or “tiered reimbursement” is applicable to family, group and centers at the STAR 2 level or higher, and increases with each STAR level. The add-on is automatically applied to the daily subsidized child care rate for the program by the CCIS. The additional daily amount may in some circumstances, increase provider rates to an amount that exceeds the Maximum Child Care Allowance.

The add-on amounts are as follows:

New STARS Awards for 07-08

Award amounts for Support and merit awards and education and retention awards have also been increased for the 2007-2008 fiscal year. Beginning in O7-08, STAR 2 programs may receive merit awards at the STAR 2 level for up to 5 years if they have completed a Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) plan and demonstrated progress. Attached are the revised award amounts. 

• Click HERE for new award amounts (PDF)

Click here for Keystone STARS Documents 

Copyright © 2006 Pennsylvania Early Learning Keys to Quality. All rights reserved.