ASISU Early Learning Center Earns STAR Rating

Released by Idaho State University October 22, 2010
Contact: Kerry Williamson, Early Learning Center Director, (208) 282-3274

ASISU Early Learning Center Earns STAR Rating

POCATELLO – The Associated Students of Idaho State University Early Learning Center has earned a STAR Rating through the IdahoSTARS Quality Rating and Improvement System (QRIS).
The QRIS is a voluntary quality rating and improvement system for child care facilities in Idaho. The quality of the facility is rated through a system of five stars, similar to ratings for hotels, movies and restaurants.
The QRIS has three goals: inform parents choices, improve the quality of child care, and implement “Strengthening Families through Early Care and Education.” “Strengthening Families” is a child abuse and neglect prevention framework that focuses on supporting family strengths through positive child care provider/parent relationships.
Child care facilities participating in QRIS earn points and an overall rating based on eight quality standards: environment, education, professional development, inclusion, strengthening families, child-to-staff ratio, group size and business practices.
The QRIS includes a built-in system for improvement in each standard. In this way, the QRIS credits facilities for the quality practices already in pace while providing a roadmap to increased quality.
The QRIS was designed with input from child care providers, professionals and community members in pilot trials during 2007 and 2008 and opened statewide on Jan.1.
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