"Delaware Stars has assisted me in raising my standards to a higher level by making changes that have benefitted the children, their families, and me.  Parents have benefitted from knowing their children are in an environment that is dedicated to quality geared around a child’s success.  The professional guidance Delaware Stars has provided has contributed to my family child care becoming a professional, successful business."
- Brigitte Shellenberger

"I would like to share comments made by a mother upon registering her child. She visited other programs after her initial visit and was impressed with our program.
She said there was a good feeling here, she liked what was going on in our classrooms and she looked up at the Delaware Stars banner and remarked that she was impressed with the standards Delaware Stars requires participating programs to meet."
Kathy Bieri (Ebenezer Preschool)

"Delaware Stars is fantastic.  This program is a benefit to any Early Childhood Education or Before/After school program that strives to provide the best care possible. Staff received excellent training that helps them work with children.  Administration is paired with a professional and knowledgeable DE Stars Technical Assistant that provides one on one guidance through the process.  I would recommend any program to enroll in Delaware Stars.”  Valerie Griffiths (Tutor Time Learning Center, Newark)


Application

Aug. 7, 2009
Enrollment

Sept. 4, 2009
Program

Child Care Ctrs


Reaching for Quality Early Care and Education

Delaware Stars is designed as a voluntary system that expects programs to work on improving quality by moving up the Star Levels. Delaware Stars provides technical assistance and limited financial support to programs involved in Stars as they engage in quality improvement efforts.

Delaware Stars for Early Success is a five level system. Star Level 1, the lowest level, requires an early childhood program to meet Child Care Licensing Regulations. With each higher Star Level a program is required to meet increasingly higher quality standards in the following categories:

  • Qualifications & Professional Development
  • Learning Environment & Curriculum
  • Family & Community Partnerships
  • Management & Administration

Learn more about Delaware Stars:

  1. Description of Delaware Stars
    for Early Success
  2. Vision - Mission - Goal Statement
  3. Public - Private Partners
  4. Funders
  5. Participating Programs
  6. Contact Information

Delaware Stars Standards:

 

DESCRIPTION OF DELAWARE STARS FOR EARLY SUCCESS (top of page)

The overarching goal of Delaware’s Early Childhood Plan for Early Success (2006) is that all children enter life and school ready to succeed.  Access to high quality early care and education programs for all of Delaware’s children, with an initial focus on children from low-income families, is an essential component of the plan.

Delaware Stars for Early Success is a Quality Rating and Improvement System (QRIS), which is a method used to assess, improve and communicate the level of quality in early care and education and school-age settings.  It establishes quality standards for programs and provides technical assistance and limited financial support to programs involved in Stars as they engage in quality improvement efforts.  Delaware Stars is designed as a voluntary system that expects programs to work on improving quality by moving up the Star Levels.

Delaware Stars for Early Success is a five level system, with “5” being the highest rating.  The licensing rules issued by the Office of Child Care Licensing serve as the Standards for Star Level 1.  With each higher Star Level, a program is required to meet increasingly higher quality Standards in the following categories: 

  • Qualifications and Professional Development                                    

  • Learning Environment and Curriculum

  • Family and Community Partnerships

  • Management and Administration

Delaware Stars was initiated by the Delaware Early Childhood Council and is supported by a public/private partnership.  The Delaware Department of Education (DOE) is ultimately responsible for Delaware Stars, through the Office of Early Care and Education.  Delaware Stars is currently housed at Children and Families First (CFF), in Wilmington.  A subcommittee of the Delaware Early Childhood Council serves as an advisory group to Delaware Stars.

A management team comprised of representatives from the Delaware Early Childhood Council, DOE Office of Early Care and Education, Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS), Office of Child Care Licensing (OCCL), Children and Families First, United Way Success By 6®, and Nemours Health and Prevention Services is responsible for making decisions related to the development and implementation of Delaware Stars. 

Currently, public funding comes from the state Department of Education (DOE).  In the past, the Department of Health and Social Services has contributed to the program as well.  United Way serves as the fiscal agent for private funding.  In five years, Delaware Stars intends to be supported primarily by public funds.

As of March 2009, Delaware Stars has successfully enrolled 90 programs, including family and large family child care, early care and education, and school-age centers.  By 2015, the goal is to have 75% of centers and 15% of family care programs participating in Delaware Stars quality improvement efforts, contingent upon funding.

 

VISION - MISSION - GOALS STATEMENT (top of page)

Vision:

All of Delaware’s children and families will have access to quality early care and education from birth through school-age.

Mission:

  • Increase access to quality early care and education for all of Delaware’schildren, with initial focus on children and families of low-income.
  • Design and implement a system that defines quality and supports the development of quality early care and education programs.
  • Engage the legislature and policymakers in supporting the implementation of Delaware Stars.
  • Provide consumer education about the importance of early care and education and Delaware’s system for providing quality programs.

Goals:

  • By 2009 early care and education programs will recognize the Delaware Stars symbol as an indicator of quality early care and education.
  • By 2010 the public will recognize the same.
  • By 2010 Delaware will have adopted a tiered reimbursement system to support programs participating in Delaware Stars.
  • By 2015 an increased number of Delaware’s early care and education programs will be participating in the Stars system: 75% of centers and 15% of family child care.
  • By 2015 an increased number of programs participating in Purchase of Care will be rated at Star Level 3 or higher; at least 50%.
  • By 2015 all programs sponsored by the state will participate in Delaware
    Stars.

PUBLIC - PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP (top of page)
Delaware Stars is supported by a public/private partnership with the following organizations:

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS (top of page)

In order to participate in Delaware Stars, a program must have been open and serving families for a minimum of one year prior to application. A program must hold a current, valid license in good standing from the Office of Child Care Licensing, and not be under any enforcement action currently or for the year prior to application. In addition, there must be no outstanding concerns with Purchase of Care( POC) or the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP).

FUNDERS (top of page)

Delaware Department of Education; Delaware Department of Health and Social Services, Divisions of Social Services and Public Health; United Way Success by 6; The Delaware Business Roundtable Education Committee’s Oversight Committee on Vision 2015; JP Morgan Chase; Social Venture Partners Delaware; Robin Foundation; ING; Chichester DuPont Foundation; and a private donor.

 

PARTICIPATING PROGRAMS (top of page)

Phase 1 Participating Programs
Babes on the Square
Boys & Girls Club – Highlands
Cozy Critters
Delaware Technical & Community College – Terry Child Development Center
Ebenezer Preschool
First Encounters
Hannah’s Christian Home Day Care
Hilltop Lutheran Neighborhood Center
Jewish Community Center Early Childhood Center
The King’s Kids
Ministry of Caring Guardian Angel
Parents & Children Together at Tech
Parker’s Playhouse
Rehoboth YMCA – Rehoboth Elementary
The Children’s Secret Garden

Phase 2 – Round 1 Participating Programs
Babes on the Square Too
Children First Preschool
Children’s House Montessori
Cornerstone Early Education & Youth Center
Discovery Island Learning Center
Great New Beginnings 2
La Fiesta Early Development Center I
La Fiesta Early Development Center II
Newark Christian Child Care
Newark Day Nursery Association
St. David’s Episcopal Day School
St. Paul’s Lutheran School
Sussex Family YMCA – Children’s Corner
Sussex Family YMCA – Shields Elementary
Tender Loving Kare Child Care & Learning Center II
The Learning Center, Inc (TLC)
TutorTime
West Center City Early Learning Center, Inc.
Western YMCA – Giant Step Preschool
Western YMCA – Meadowood School

Phase 2 - Round 2 Participating Programs
BayHealth/Kent General Hospital Child Care & Learning Center
Child Care Academy of the Arts
Children’s Corner YMCA Dover
Creative Learning Academy
Downings Loving & Learning Center
Edu-Care Preschool & Daycare
First Steps Preschool
Great New Beginnings 1
Great New Beginnings 3
Kidz Inc. Early Learning Center
Pike Creek KinderCare
Montessori Center for Learning
St. Mary’s Early Education Program
Tender Loving Kare I
Wilmington Head Start – Leslie Johnson Center
YMCA Children’s Corner I
YMCA Children’s Corner III
YMCA/Walnut Street/Bancroft Academy’s School’s Out
YMCA School’s Out/Colwyck Elementary
YMCA/Walnut Street Branch/Castle Hills
YMCA/Walnut Street/School’s Out Program/Thomas Edison Schools

Phase 2 Round 3 Participating Programs
 Jennifer Cortes - Creative Corner
Rose Currington- Rose's Child Care
Dah Lie Hao - Dolly's Family Care
Sandra Layte - Sandy's Day Care
Patricia Lewis - Footsteps Family Child Care
Marlette Lofland - Miss Marlette's Colorful World DC
Virginia Pegram-Biggs - Wrap Me In Your Arms CC
Annette Radcliff
Sarah Reyes - Semillas de Jesus
Alycha Ringgold - Heaven's Angels Christian CC
Brigitte Shellenberger - Brigitte Shellenberger's Day Care
Carol Williams - Little Gems Academy and Child Care

Phase 3 Round 1 Participating Programs
Alpha Kids Early Learning Center
All About Kidz
Avenue Preschool
Brilliant Little Minds Learning Center
Expanding Our Kids World, Inc.
Kingswood Community Center
LACC Learning Center
LACC Learning Center/Lewis Elementary
Lil' Einsteins Learning Academy
Ministry of Caring Child Care Center
Ministry of Caring/Il Bambino
Passion Care Services
Precious Moments
Rehoboth Cooperative Preschool
Sharon Temple Child Care Learning Center
Small Wonder Daycare, Inc.
St. John's Lutheran Early Learning Center
St. Michael's School and Nursery, Inc.
Tender Loving Kare Childcare and Learning Center III
The Playhouse Nursery School
The Salvation Army Early Learning Center
West End 21st Century Learning Center

 

CONTACT INFORMATION (top of page)
Delaware Stars inquiries can be directed to:

Peggy Winslow
302-479-1676