(A)What programs
qualify for a desk review conducted by the Ohio department of job and family
services (ODJFS), the county agency or the Ohio department of education (ODE)?
Programs who are eligible pursuant to rule 5101:2-17-02 of the
Administrative Code and have submitted a completed registration.
(B)How are
ratings awarded?
(1)The program
shall not be awarded a rating higher than was confirmed by the program during
the registration process if the program confirms at a one-star, two-star or
three-star rating.
(2)The program
may be awarded a higher rating if it's determined that the program meets the
criteria and the program confirms at a four-star rating.
(3)A program may
not be awarded a rating, or a lower star rating may be assessed, if at the desk
review or on-site verification visit the program does not meet the standards
for the rating the program confirmed at registration.
(C)How long does
a star rating last?
If the program meets the standards for a star rating and the
requirements for maintaining a star rating, the following shall occur:
(1)One-star rated
programs shall be rated for a period of one year.
(2)Two-star rated
programs shall be rated for a period of one year.
(a)A two-star
rated program shall register for a one, three, four, or five-star rating
between one hundred eighty days and two hundred seventy days after the two-star
rating effective date.
(b)If a program
fails to register by day two hundred seventy, the rating shall be immediately
discontinued.
(c)A program may
only be awarded a two-star rating once every four years from the end of the
two-star rating.
(3)Three-star
rated programs shall be rated for a period of two years.
(4)Four and
five-star rated programs shall be rated for a period of three years.
(D)How is a
deferral issued?
(1)A deferral may
be issued at the conclusion of the on-site verification visit or at the time of
the annual report if the program cannot demonstrate it is meeting the
standards.
(2)If the program
cannot meet the deferral requirement within the time frame given, a lesser star
rating may be awarded.
(E)When is a
rating effective?
The rating shall be effective:
(1)The Sunday
following the thirtieth day after the completion of the on-site verification
visit.
(2)If a deferral
was issued, the Sunday following the thirtieth day after the end of the
deferral period.
(3)The Sunday
following approval or license begin date, whichever is later, after:
(a)The desk
review;
(b)A rating is
awarded pursuant to paragraph (F) or (G) of this rule; or
(c)The annual
report review.
(F)What are the
requirements if a program owner, with multiple rated programs, wants to have a
new program's rating expedited?
(1)The program
shall request the rating in the Ohio child licensing and quality system (OCLQS)
at https://oclqs.force.com during the application process or within the first
thirty days of the provisional license period.
(2)The program's
owner shall own multiple licensed programs that include the following:
(a)At least fifty
per cent of the owner's programs have a star rating; and
(b)Two or more of
the programs have a three, four or five-star rating.
(3)The rating
awarded shall equal the lowest rating of the three, four or five-star rated
programs if the program meets the following:
(a)All
administrator and staff qualifications shall be met pursuant to the appendices
to rule 5101:2-17-01 of the Administrative Code for the star rating to be
awarded.
(b)The program
implements a written, researched-based, comprehensive curriculum aligned with
the early learning and development standards and/or the Ohio K-12 standards,
appropriate to the age group served and which shows alignment to the program's
identified assessment process.
(4)If the program
is unable to meet the requirements of paragraph (F)(3) of this rule, a lesser
star rating may be awarded.
(5)In order to
continue the star rating, the program shall:
(a)Submit an
initial registration within one hundred twenty days of the rating begin date;
and
(b)Comply with a
desk review including documents returned for revision and the on-site
verification visit.
(6)If the new
program fails to comply with paragraph (F)(5) of this rule, the rating shall be
discontinued one hundred twenty days after the rating begin date.
(G)What are the
requirements to continue a rating if the program's owner changes?
(1)An initial
program applicant may be awarded a rating when the owner is changing if the
following requirements are met:
(a)The currently
rated program has been rated for the previous thirteen months.
(b)The new
program requests the rating in OCLQS during the application process or within
the first thirty days of the provisional license period.
(2)The rating
awarded shall equal the current rating if the program meets the following:
(a)All
administrator and staff qualifications shall be met pursuant to the appendices
to rule 5101:2-17-01 of the Administrative Code for the star rating to be
awarded.
(b)The program
implements a written, researched-based, comprehensive curriculum aligned with
the early learning and development standards and/or the Ohio K-12 standards,
appropriate to the age group served and which shows alignment to the program's
identified assessment process.
(3)If the program
is unable to meet all of the requirements of paragraph (G)(2) of this rule, a
lesser star rating may be awarded.
(4)In order to
continue the star rating, the program shall:
(a)Submit an
initial registration within one hundred twenty days of the rating begin date:
and.
(b)Comply with a
desk review including documents returned for revision and the on-site
verification visit.
(5)If the program
fails to comply with paragraph (G)(4) of this rule, the rating shall be
discontinued one hundred twenty days after the rating begin date.
(H)Will the star
rating continue if a program changes its location?
Yes the star rating shall continue.
(I)If a star
rated family child care provider changes from a licensed type A home to a
licensed type B home or from a licensed type B home to a licensed type A home,
will the star rating continue?
Yes the star rating shall continue.
(J)Will the star
rating be reinstated if a program was previously rated and the rating was
discontinued due to the program being in temporary closure status for more than
ninety days pursuant to rule 5101:2-12-02 or 5101:2-13-02 of the Administrative
Code?
(1)The rating may
be reinstated if the program requests the reinstatement in OCLQS within the
first thirty days after reinstatement of the continuous license. If the program has a provider agreement to provide publicly
funded child care pursuant to Chapter 5101:2-16 of the Administrative Code and
does not request to reinstate its star rating prior to the reopening of the
license, the program may have a gap in PFCC services.
(2)The reinstated
rating shall equal the prior rating if the program meets all of the following:
(a)All
administrators and staff qualifications shall be met pursuant to the appendices
to rule 5101:2-17-01 of the Administrative Code for the star rating to be awarded.
(b)The program
meets the curriculum and assessment requirements pursuant to the appendices to
rule 5101:2-17-01 of the Administrative Code for the star rating to be awarded.
(3)If the program
is unable to meet the requirements of paragraph (J)(2) of this rule, a lesser
star rating may be awarded.
(4)Once the
reinstated star rating has been awarded, in order to continue the rating, the
program shall:
(a)Submit an
ongoing registration within one hundred twenty days of the rating begin date.
(b)Comply with a
desk review and an on-site verification visit.
(5)What if the
program fails to comply with paragraph (J)(4) of this rule?
The rating shall be discontinued one hundred twenty days after
the rating begin date.
(K)What if ODJFS,
ODE or the county agency determine the program is not meeting any of the
standards outlined in the appendices to rule 5101:2-17-01 of the Administrative
Code?
The program shall:
(1)Comply with
any desk reviews or on-site verification visits.
(2)Submit any
documents requested by ODJFS, ODE or the county agency.
(L)What are the
requirements for rated programs displaying marketing materials?
The program shall:
(1)Use SUTQ
marketing materials only for the current rating.
(2)Meet the
branding and logo requirements outlined by ODJFS for marketing materials.
Effective: 3/29/2020
Five Year Review (FYR) Dates: 1/6/2024
Certification: CERTIFIED ELECTRONICALLY
Date: 03/19/2020
Promulgated Under: 119.03
Statutory Authority: 5104.29
Rule Amplifies: 5104.29, 5104.31
Prior Effective Dates: 10/01/2013, 07/20/2014, 05/24/2015,
09/28/2015, 06/26/2016, 12/31/2016, 01/06/2019