Increasing Your Star Rating

Action

Description

Enroll all staff in Early Childhood classes and/or encourage them to earn Early Care and Education (ECE) Certification

While you earn the most points when staff receive a degree, you might also be eligible for more points as they complete individual classes and/or receive ECE Certification. Extra benefits for completing ongoing classes are:

• One caregiver can share their knowledge from classes with other caregivers which improves the overall level of care provided to the children
• You will have more flexibility if one caregiver resigns and you have to fill that position with someone with equal education to maintain the education points you have already earned
• Staff may be eligible for salary supplements

Develop a plan to reduce your staff/child ratios over time

If reducing your ratios now would mean having to decrease your enrollment, you may want to reduce your numbers as children age out of classrooms

Use environment rating scale results

If you had an environment rating scale done initially, use the information contained in the summary to make continuous improvements in all classrooms

Use environment rating scale assessment materials

If you have not had an environment rating scale completed, use the Environment Rating Scale books to conduct individual self-assessments prior to applying. Some providers find it helpful to have a teacher from one classroom observe in a different teacher's room. Read thoroughly the information in the books, as well as the NC Additional Notes found at the North Carolina Rated License Assessment Project website to help you complete the observation correctly.

Continue to meet licensing requirements

Continue to meet all licensing requirements so that your compliance percentage will increase over time. A minimum compliance history score of 75% must be maintained at all times