News Release

UNCG RECEIVES $2.7 MILLION TO CONTINUE
5-STAR CHILD CARE RATING PROGRAM

GREENSBORO, N.C. – Working parents across North Carolina are able to make better child care choices, thanks to the five-star rating program, administered in part by The University of North Carolina at Greensboro.

The university has just received $2.7 million from the state to continue two more years of the rating program -- known as the North Carolina Rated License Assessment Program. Under the program,  UNCG subcontracts with seven universities in the UNC system which employ more than 25 assessors or trainers who assess child care centers and homes applying for the four- or five-star rating. Five stars is the highest rating possible, indicating high program standards. UNCG has assessed more than 2,500 day care facilities since receiving the first $2.3 million from the N.C. Division of Child Development in 1999 to design and implement the program.

“UNCG is involved because this project is consistent with the University’s ongoing commitment to community partnerships and service.” said Dr. Deborah Cassidy, program director and associate professor of human development and family studies. “Information in the assessments informs child care facilities how to be the best they can be, and provides parents with information about what is happening in the facility and why.”

Effective September 1, 2000, the NC Division of Child Development began issuing star rated licenses to child care centers and family child care homes, replacing the former A and AA ratings system.

A one star license means that the provider has met the basic licensing requirements. However, licenses with 2-5 stars indicate that the provider has met higher standards for better quality child care. The three categories that are evaluated to determine the star rating include program standards, staff education and compliance history. The UNCG project assesses the program standards category, utilizing an assessment instrument to insure consistency across the state.

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