Background:
Step Up To Quality (SUTQ) is the quality rating and improvement system
developed by the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS) and the
Ohio Department of Education (ODE) to increase the quality of child care and
early education programs. The current
five-star system requires the completion and submission of numerous forms,
ratings are only effective for a designated time period and an annual report is
required.
New Policy:
To assist programs with reducing administrative burden, as well
as in achieving and maintaining their ratings, the following changes will take
effect on April 15, 2022:
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SUTQ Rating
| The rating renewal process is being discontinued. A program's SUTQ rating will be continuous
from their rating effective date. The SUTQ certificate for a continuous
rating is valid with no expiration date. This does not include programs with
specialized ratings, those ratings will continue to have an expiration date. The two-star rating will be continuous with no
expiration date. Two-star rated programs will no longer register for a
different rating within one year, and the rating is no longer limited to once
every four years. Programs wishing to change their star rating must
submit an ongoing rating registration. |
|
Specialized Rating
|
Change of ownership, reinstatement and/or expedited
ratings are not continuous, as they are time limited. Programs with these
ratings must continue to follow the process outlined in Chapter 5101:2-17, of
the Ohio Administrative Code.
|
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Annual Report/Verification Visit
|
The requirement to submit documentation for the annual
report is being discontinued. SUTQ standards will be reviewed annually. One
and two-star rated programs will receive a complete verification visit every
other year to review all SUTQ standards. Highly rated three to five-star rated
programs will receive a complete verification visit every three years.
|
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Standards
|
The number of forms required for upload at registration
for each star-rating has been reduced. The standards have been revised to
identify sample forms that may be used to meet the standard. The updated
standards are attached to this letter.
|
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Rating Reductions
|
If a program's rating is reduced to a lesser rating, not
a zero, this new rating will also be continuous. Programs cannot be awarded a
new rating until six months from the new continuous rating effective date.
|
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School-Age Children
|
Programs serving school-age children are not required
to obtain or implement a school-age curriculum.
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Implementation:
Currently rated programs do not need to take any action to make
their rating continuous. All current
rating expiration dates will be removed via a system process. The system process to remove rating
expiration dates does not apply to change of owner, reinstatement, and
expedited ratings, as these ratings are time limited as outlined in rule.
The Ohio Child Licensing and Quality System (OCLQS) will reflect
these changes on April 18, 2022. Updated
SUTQ certificates reflecting a continuous rating can be printed from OCLQS on
April 18, 2022. System changes are being implemented beginning Friday, April
15, 2022, and will be completed Monday, April 18, 2022. OCLQS will not be
available during this time.
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Action
|
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Annual Report
| If your program’s rating expires on or after April 15,
2022, you do NOT need to submit an annual report to
maintain your current SUTQ rating. Disregard emails received reminding your program that
the annual report is due. |
|
Ongoing Rating/Renewal Registration
| If your program’s rating expires on or after April 15,
2022, you do NOT need to submit an ongoing registration
to maintain your current SUTQ rating. Disregard emails received reminding your program to
complete an ongoing registration. If your program's rating expires
before April 15, 2022, it will be processed according to the current standards. |
|
Specialized Rating
|
If your program currently holds a change of ownership,
re-instatement, or expedited rating, you must submit an initial registration
within the 120- day deadline, as this rating type is not continuous.
|
Programs registering for a star rating can begin to use the
revised forms on April 15, 2022. Forms completed and currently on file at a
rated program do not need to be updated with these revised versions until a
form is required to be updated.
Prescribed forms that have been revised that appear
in the standards:
JFS 01509 "Continuous Improvement Plan (CIP) for Step Up To
Quality (SUTQ)" has been revised to clarify what is required for dates and
goals, and for Family Child Care, to add the program owner’s self-assessment
(CKC).
JFS 01590 "Curriculum Standards Assessment Alignment Tool:
Infants, Toddlers and Preschoolers for Step Up to Quality Programs" is a
new form that has consolidated the former JFS 01590 "Curriculum Standard
Assessment Alignment Tool: Infants and Toddlers for Step Up To Quality"
and JFS 01591 "Curriculum Standard Assessment Alignment Tool:
Pre-Kindergarten Strand for Step Up To Quality". Further revisions include
language clarification and the addition of blended curriculums.
Sample forms that have been revised and have
been added to the standards:
JFS 01381 "Program Transition Policies For Four To
Five-Star Ratings for Step Up To Quality (SUTQ)" has been revised to
update form description wording.
JFS 01518 "Classroom Self-Assessment Action Plan for Step
Up To Quality (SUTQ)" has been revised to update the wording in some
fields for clarification.
JFS 01587 "Professional Development Plan for Step Up To
Quality (SUTQ)" has been revised to mirror language in the rule standards.
The following forms have been revised and are available
on forms central as technical assistance documents:
JFS 01369 "Records Transfer Policy/Request For Two to
Five-Star Ratings for Step Up To Quality (SUTQ)" has been revised to add a
section to indicate which records are being transferred, and to update the
parent signature to give authorization for the transferring of forms.
JFS 01379 "Health Screening Process for Three to Five-Star
Ratings for Step Up To Quality (SUTQ)" has been revised to include
information previously on the JFS 01375 "Health Referral Process for Three
to Five-Star Ratings for Step Up To Quality (SUTQ)", which is being made
obsolete.
JFS 01507 "Curriculum Selection Process for Two to
Five-Star Programs for Step Up To Quality (SUTQ)" has been revised to
mirror language in the rule standards.
The following forms have been made obsolete:
JFS 01364 "Written Wage Structure for One to Five-Star
Ratings for Step Up To Quality (SUTQ)"
JFS 01365 "Description of Professional Development Planning
Process for One to Five-Star Ratings for Step Up To Quality (SUTQ)"
JFS 01366 "Community Resources Information for One to
Five-Star Ratings for Step Up To Quality (SUTQ)"
JFS 01367 "Family Engagement Activities for Two to
Five-Star Ratings for Step Up To Quality (SUTQ)"
JFS 01370 "Family Engagement Model or Process for Four to
Five-Star Ratings for Step Up To Quality (SUTQ)"
JFS 01371 "Approved Staff Supports for Two to Five-Star
Ratings for Step Up To Quality (SUTQ)"
JFS 01372 "Health and Child Development Information for Two
to Five-Star Ratings for Step Up To Quality (SUTQ)"
JFS 01374 "Professional Development Plan Annual Summary for
Three to Five-Star Ratings for Step Up To Quality (SUTQ) Annual Report"
JFS 01375 "Health Referral Process for Three to Five-Star
Ratings for Step Up To Quality (SUTQ)"
JFS 01377 "Family Education Information for Three to
Five-Star Ratings for Step Up To Quality (SUTQ)"
JFS 01383 "Annual Survey Process for Four to Five-Star
Ratings for Step Up To Quality (SUTQ)"
JFS 01508 "Action Plan for Selecting a Curriculum for Step
Up To Quality (SUTQ)"
JFS 01511 "Family Information for Step Up To Quality
(SUTQ)"
JFS 01512 "Developmental Screening Instrument for Step Up
To Quality (SUTQ)"
JFS 01516 "Classroom Self-Assessment Tool Summary: One
Through Five-Star Rating For Step Up To Quality (SUTQ)
JFS 01522 "Teacher Observation Summary for Step Up To
Quality (SUTQ)"
JFS 01591 "Curriculum Standards Assessment Alignment Tool:
Pre-Kindergarten Strand for Step Up To Quality (SUTQ) Programs"
JFS 01593 "Curriculum Standards Assessment Alignment Tool:
School Age For Step Up To Quality Programs"
JFS 01596 "Staff Worksheet For Step Up To Quality
(SUTQ)"
Questions:
Please contact the Child Care Policy Help Desk at childcarepolicy@jfs.ohio.gov or
1-877-302-2347, option 4, if you have any questions.