What is YoungStar?

By now you’ve probably heard about YoungStar, but do you know what it is actually all about? YoungStar is a program created by the Department of Children and Families to improve the quality of child care for Wisconsin children. YoungStar: Evaluates and rates the quality of care given by child care providers; helps parents choose the best child care for their kids; supports providers with tools and training to deliver high-quality early care; and sets a consistent standard for child care quality.

The way that YoungStar works is that it evaluates the quality of care given by regulated child care providers and rates them from 1 to 5 stars, with 5 stars being the highest rating. A provider’s star rating is based on: Education Qualifications and Training; Learning Environment and Curriculum; Professional and Business Practices; and Child Health and Well-Being Practices. In addition, if a program is NAC accredited by the National Association of Child Care Professionals or NAEYC accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children then it too earns the recognition of being a 5-star program.

Ebenezer Child Care Centers’ Downtown Milwaukee, Southside Milwaukee, Oak Creek and Wauwatosa locations have all received YoungStar ratings of 5 stars. Our Mequon facility is still awaiting its NAC accreditation and YoungStar rating, and our Greenfield Center is not eligible for a rating since it is only a before and after school program.

More information on the YoungStar program can be found at: http://dcf.wi.gov/youngstar/default.htm