CCMTL 124 (Chapter 5101:2-17 Step Up To Quality Rules to Include Type B Home Providers)
Child Care Manual Transmittal Letter No. 124
July 23, 2014
TO: All Child Care Manual Holders
FROM: Cynthia C. Dungey, Director
SUBJECT: Chapter 5101:2-17 Step Up To Quality Rules to Include Type B Home Providers

Background:

Voluntary registration for Step Up To Quality (SUTQ) will no longer be limited to licensed child care centers and licensed Type A Home providers. Grant requirements for the Early Learning Challenge Grant (ELCG) include the addition of Type B Home providers participating in SUTQ. The Office of Family Assistance has amended current rules and created one new rule contained in Chapter 5101:2-17 of the Ohio Administrative Code to implement these changes.

New Policy:

Licensed Type B Home providers may begin voluntary registration for SUTQ beginning in July 2014. In addition, owners of multiple highly rated programs may be able to be awarded a star rating at initial licensure.

The following rules have been amended and will be effective July 20, 2014:

5101:2-17-01 "Step Up To Quality (SUTQ): program standards" is has been amended to define a family child care provider as a Type A Home provider or a Type B Home provider. Appendix A has been amended to clarify language and Appendix B has been amended to include Type B Home providers.

5101:2-17-02 "Step Up To Quality (SUTQ): eligibility for registration" has been amended to include Type B Home providers as an eligible program for SUTQ, to implement serious risk non-compliances for a Type B Home provider in Appendix C and to allow programs to receive a star rating during the provisional license period if the owner of the program has other multiple highly rated programs.

5101:2-17-03 "Step Up To Quality (SUTQ): desk reviews, verification visits and star rating awards" has been amended to change the title of the rule, include Type B Home providers and to allow an owner of multiple highly rated programs to receive a rating for a new program equivalent to the lowest rating of all of their highly rated programs.

5101:2-17-04 "Step Up To Quality (SUTQ): changes, renewals, removals or requests to withdraw a SUTQ rating" has been amended to incorporate the addition of Type B Home providers and to require notification of a change in a lead teacher.

5101:2-17-05 "Step Up To Quality (SUTQ): appeals" has been amended to include Type B Home providers.

The following new rule has been adopted:

5101:2-17-06 "Step Up To Quality (SUTQ): county agency responsibility" is a new rule that outlines the requirements for the county agency to interact with ODJFS for the implementation of Type B Home provider standards in SUTQ.

The following forms have been revised:

JFS 01590"Curriculum Standard Assessment Alignment Tool: Infants and Toddlers for Step Up to Quality" has been revised to require the use of this form for programs with self-created curricula.

JFS 01591"Curriculum Standard Assessment Alignment Tool: Pre-Kindergarten Strand for Step Up to Quality" has been revised to require the use of this form for programs with self-created curricula.

JFS 01593"Curriculum Standard Assessment Alignment Tool: School Age for Step Up to Quality" has been revised to require the use of this form for programs with self-created curricula.

Implementation:

For further information on the ODJFS Type B Home provider SUTQ training and implementation schedule see Family Assistance Letter #136.

Please contact the Child Care Policy Helpdesk at 1-877-302-2347, option 4, if you have any questions.