Louisiana Administrative Code › Title 67 - SOCIAL SERVICES › Part III - Economic Stability › Subpart 12 - Child Care Assistance Program › Chapter 51 - Child Care Assistance Program › Subchapter C - Child Care Quality Rating System › Section III-5119 - Quality Start Child Care Rating System Requirements

Current through Register Vol. 50, No. 6, June 20, 2024
A. The Quality Start Child Care Rating System
					 is designed to assess the level of quality of early care and education for
					 programs serving birth through age five, communicate the level of quality, and
					 support improvements of child care centers. The Quality Start Child Care Rating
					 System consists of five star ratings that can be earned by a licensed child
					 care center, uses licensing as the foundation, and has four star ratings above
					 Louisiana's licensing standards. The system components (administration
					 practices, family and community involvement, program, and staff qualifications)
					 have indicators that must be achieved to earn the star rating.
B. The secretary of the Department of
					 Children and Family Services, in specific instances, may waive compliance with
					 a requirement if it is determined that the economic or adverse impact is
					 sufficiently great to make compliance impractical, as long as the health and
					 well-being of the staff and/or children are not imperiled. If it is determined
					 that the facility or individual is meeting or exceeding the intent of a
					 requirement, the requirement may be deemed to be met. The decision to grant or
					 deny a waiver rests with the sole discretion of the secretary.
1. One Star-to participate at the one-star
					 level, a child care center shall have a license to operate and comply with
					 standards as defined in LAC 67, Chapter 73, Sections 7301-7354
2. Two Star-to earn a two-star award, a child
					 care center must meet all the standards for a One Star, have been in operation
					 for six months, and meet the following:
a.
					 Administration Practices
i. Written personnel
					 policies including:
(a). operational
					 hours;
(b). dress code;
(c). use of telephone; and
(d). schedule.
ii. Job descriptions that include a list of
					 qualifications on file and provided to all staff.
iii. Provide one staff benefit from the list
					 of options below for all full-time staff. Staff benefit options:
(a). employee health insurance or comparable
					 health benefits;
(b). paid annual
					 leave;
(c). paid sick
					 leave;
(d). paid
					 holidays;
(e). child care
					 benefit/discount;
(f). bonus based
					 on merit/achievement or education;
(g). retirement compensation;
(h). annual increments based on
					 merit;
(i). tuition reimbursement
					 and other related educational expenses such as books, travel, fees,
					 substitutes;
(j). differential
					 shift pay;
(k). flextime;
(l). pay professional association membership
					 fee.
b.
					 Family and Community Involvement
i. Pare nt
					 provided pre-enrollment visit and center tour.
ii. Give every parent enrolling a child a
					 list of community resources including, but not limited to, LaCHIP, Medicaid,
					 child care assistance, housing assistance, SNAP assistance and information on a
					 child's medical home.
c.
					 Program
i. Make four of the following
					 activity areas available daily:
(a). art and
					 creative play;
(b). children's
					 books;
(c). blocks and block
					 building;
(d). manipulatives;
					 and
(e). family living and dramatic
					 play.
ii. Complete a
					 self assessment of the center's program and develop a Center Improvement
					 Plan.
d. Staff
					 Qualifications
i. Directors and teachers must
					 join and maintain a current record with the Louisiana Pathways Child Care
					 Career Development System. Directors must complete three hours of Introduction
					 to Environment Rating Scale (ERS) training.
ii. Director (on site)
(a). Three semester hour credits in care of
					 young children or child development1; and
(b). three semester hour credits in
					 administration2; and
(c). one year of experience in teaching young
					 children in an early childhood program.
iii. Assistant Director
(a). Three semester hour credits in the care
					 of young children or child development.1
iv. Teacher- Seventy-five percent
					 of lead teachers must meet one of the following.
(a). Complete three semester hour credits
					 course in the care of young children or child
					 development1 from a list of approved courses or
					 enroll in the course and complete the course within one year of
					 employment.
3. Point Standards for child care centers
					 seeking three star rating, four star rating, and five star ratings. To achieve
					 a higher rating, a child care center must meet all requirements of the two star
					 rating and earn points in program and staff qualifications by meeting the
					 requirements listed below. At least one point must be earned in both program
					 and staff qualifications. The quality point referenced in Subparagraph 3.c. may
					 also be earned. The total number of points will determine the star rating
					 awarded to the center.
Total Number of Points
Star Rating
3-5 points
Three Stars
6-9 points
Four Stars
10-11 points
Five Stars
a. Program
Points
Criteria
1
An average of 3.75 on the designated
								  social-emotional subscale of the Environment Rating Scale
								  (ERS)3, with no one classroom score lower than 3.0
								  on the subscale.
2
An average of 4.0 on the designated
								  social-emotional subscale of the ERS3 with no one
								  classroom score lower than 3.0 on the subscale.
3
1. An average of 4.25 on the designated
								  social-emotional subscale of the ERS3 with no one
								  classroom score lower than 3.25 on the subscale.
2. Staff: Child Ratio and Group Size
0-12 months 1:4,8
25-36 months 1:8, 16
4 yrs 1:12, 24
13-24 months 1:6,12
3 yrs 1:10, 20
5 yrs 1:15, 30
3. Written transition procedures for children
								  moving within a program or to other programs or beginning school.
4
1. An average of 4.5 on the designated
								  social-emotional subscale of the ERS with no one classroom score lower than 3.5
								  on the overall ERS.
2. Complete screening for social-emotional
								  development with instrument from recommended list for all children (0-5 yrs.)
								  within 45 calendar days of enrollment and annually thereafter. Conference with
								  parents to review results and provide a list of community resources.
3. Staff: Child Ratio and Group Size
0-12 months 1:4, 8
25-36 months 1:8, 16
4 yrs 1:12, 24
13-24 months 1:6, 12
3 yrs 1:10, 20
5 yrs 1:15, 30
4. Written transition procedures for children
								  moving within a program or to other programs or beginning school.
5
1. An average of 5.0 on the overall ERS, with no
								  one classroom score lower than 4.0.
2. Complete screening for social-emotional
								  development with instrument from recommended list for all children (0-5 yrs.)
								  within 45 calendar days of enrollment and annually thereafter. Conference with
								  parents to review results and provide a list of community resources.
3. Provide a plan for continuity of care for all
								  children 0-36 months of age.
4. Implementation of Louisiana's Early Learning
								  Guidelines and Program Standards: Birth through Three, (DSS October 2006) and
								  the Louisiana Standards for Programs Serving Four-Year-Old Children (DOE June
								  2003).
5. Staff: Child Ratio and Group Size:
0-24 months 1:4, 8
2 yrs 1:6, 12
3 yrs 1:8, 16
4 yrs 1:10, 20
5 yrs 1:10, 20
b. Staff Qualifications
Points
Criteria
1
Directors and all lead teachers complete training
								  in Louisiana's Early Learning Guidelines and Standards which encompasses
								  information from Louisiana's Early Learning Guidelines and Program Standards:
								  Birth Through Three, (DSS October 2006) and the Louisiana
Standards for Programs Serving Four-Year-Old
								  Children (DOE June 2003).
Director (on site)
1. Six semester hour credits in the care of
								  young children or child development1; and
2. Three semester hour credits in administrative
								  coursework2, and
3. One year experience teaching young children
								  in an early childhood program.
Assistant Director
Three semester hour credits in the care of young
								  children or child development.1
Lead Teacher
All of lead teachers must complete three
								  semester hour credits in the care of young children or child development from a
								  list of approved courses1or enroll in the course and
								  complete the course within one year of employment.
Assistant Teacher
Fifty percent of assistant teachers must have
								  completed or be enrolled in three semester hour credits in the care of young
								  children or child development1 and complete the
								  course within one year of employment.
2
Directors and all teachers complete training in
								  Louisiana's Early Learning Guidelines and Standards which encompasses
								  information from Louisiana's Early Learning Guidelines and Program Standards:
								  Birth Through Three, (DSS October 2006) and the Louisiana Standards for
								  Programs Serving Four-Year-Old Children (DOE June 2003).
Director
1. Nine semester hour credits in the care of
								  young children or child development1; and
2. Three semester hour credits in administrative
								  coursework2; and
3. One year of teaching experience and one year
								  teaching or administrative experience in an early childhood program.
Assistant Director
1. Three semester hour credits in the care of
								  young children or child development1; and
2. Three semester hour credits in administrative
								  coursework2; and
3. One year experience in teaching young
								  children in an early childhood program.
Lead Teacher
1. Seventy-five percent of lead teachers must
								  have completed six semester hour credits in the care of young children or child
								  development1 from a list of approved courses or have
								  completed three semester hour credits and be enrolled in an additional three
								  semester hour credits in the care of young children, child development or
								  related coursework1 and complete the course within
								  one year of employment, and
2. One year full-time experience in an early
								  childhood setting.
Assistant Teacher
Fifty percent of assistant teachers must have
								  completed or be enrolled in three semester hour credits in the care of young
								  children or child development1 and complete the
								  course within one year of employment.
3
Directors and all teachers complete training in
								  Louisiana's Early Learning Guidelines and Standards which encompasses
								  information from Louisiana's Early Learning Guidelines and Program Standards:
								  Birth Through Three, (DSS October 2006) and the Louisiana Standards for
								  Programs Serving Four-Year-Old Children (DOE June 2003).
Director
1. Twelve semester hour credits in the care of
								  young children or child development1; and
2. Six semester hour credits of administrative
								  coursework2; and
3. Three years experience in an early childhood
								  setting as follows: At least one year of teaching experience and at least one
								  year of administrative experience and one year of either teaching or
								  administrative experience.
Assistant Director
1. Three semester hour credits in the care of
								  young children or child development1; and
2. Three semester hour credits in administrative
								  coursework2; and
3. One year experience in teaching young
								  children in an early childhood program.
Lead Teacher
1. Seventy-five percent of lead teachers must
								  have completed nine semester hour credits in the care of young children or
								  child development1 from a list of approved courses
								  or have completed six semester hour credits and be enrolled in an additional
								  three semester hour credits in the care of young children, child development or
								  related coursework1 and complete the course within
								  one year of employment, and
2. One year full-time experience in an early
								  childhood setting.
Assistant Teacher
Fifty percent of assistant teachers must have
								  completed three semester hour credits in the care of young children or child
								  development1.
4
Directors and all teachers complete training in
								  Louisiana's Early Learning Guidelines and Standards which encompasses
								  information from Louisiana's Early Learning Guidelines and Program Standards:
								  Birth Through Three, (DSS October 2006) and the Louisiana Standards for
								  Programs Serving Four-Year-Old Children (DOE June 2003).
Director
1. Fifteen semester hour credits in the care of
								  young children or child development1; and
2. Six semester hour credits of administrative
								  coursework2; and
3. Four years experience in an early childhood
								  setting as follows: At least one year of teaching experience and at least one
								  year of administrative experience and two years of either teaching or
								  administrative experience.
Assistant Director
1. Three semester hour credits in the care of
								  young children or child development1; and
2. Three semester hour credits in administrative
								  coursework2; and
3. One year experience in teaching young
								  children in an early childhood program.
Lead Teacher
1. Seventy-five percent of lead teachers must
								  have completed 12 semester hour credits in the care of young children or child
								  development1 from a list of approved courses or have
								  completed nine semester hour credits and be enrolled in an additional three
								  semester hour credits in the care of young children, child development or
								  related coursework1 and complete the course within
								  one year of employment and
2. Two years full-time experience in an early
								  childhood setting.
Assistant Teacher
All assistant teachers must have completed three
								  semester hour credits in the care of young children or child
								  development1.
5
Directors and all teachers complete training in
								  Louisiana's Early Learning Guidelines and Standards which encompasses
								  information from Louisiana's Early Learning Guidelines and Program Standards:
								  Birth Through Three, (DSS October 2006) and the Louisiana Standards for
								  Programs Serving Four-Year-Old Children (DOE June 2003).
Director
1. Associate's degree in the care of young
								  children, child development or related field, with specific coursework in
								  infant-toddler care, and the care of exceptional children or equivalent such as
								  Director III LA Pathways and
2. Six semester hour credits of administrative
								  coursework2 and five years experience in an early
								  childhood setting as follows: At least one year of teaching experience and at
								  least one year of administrative experience, and three years of either teaching
								  or administrative experience.
Assistant Director
1. Six semester hour credits in the care of
								  young children or child development1; and
2. Three semester hour credits in
								  administration2; and
3. One year experience in teaching young
								  children in an early childhood program.
Lead Teacher
1. All lead teachers must have six semester hour
								  credits in the care of young children or child
								  development1 from a list of approved courses; and
2. Seventy-five percent of lead teachers must
								  have completed 15 semester hour credits in the care of young children or child
								  development1 from a list of approved courses or have
								  completed 12 semester hour credits and be enrolled in an additional three
								  semester hour credits in the care of young children, child development or
								  related coursework1 and complete the course within
								  one year of employment; and
3. Two years full-time experience in an early
								  childhood setting for all teachers.
Assistant Teacher
All assistant teachers must have completed six
								  semester hour credits in the care of young children or child
								  development1 or have completed three semester hour
								  credits and be enrolled in an additional three semester hour credits in the
								  care of young children, child development or related
								  coursework1 and complete the course within one year
								  of employment.
c. An additional quality point can be earned
					 by meeting additional requirements in both the administration practices and the
					 family and community involvement areas.
Quality Point
Points
Criteria
1
Administration Practices - meet three
								  requirements below:
1. Provide four of the benefits from the
								  list4 of options below for all full-time staff.
2. Include grievance procedure and a
								  professional conduct code for staff in written personnel policies.
3. Pay scale based on education, experience,
								  responsibilities and merit.
4. Provide training to staff on cultural
								  sensitivity.
5. Written parent and staff confidentiality
								  policy and provide training to staff
and
Family and Community Involvement - meet four
								  requirements below:
1. Director or assistant director participates
								  annually in at least two director's meetings provided by the resource and
								  referral agency.
2. Provide a complaint process for parents.
3. Offer opportunity for a formal parent/teacher
								  conference meeting annually.
4. Provide an expanded list of local community
								  resources to parents annually including, but not limited to, LaCHIP, Medicaid,
								  Child Care Assistance, housing assistance, SNAP assistance and information on a
								  child's medical home.
5. Parent Advisory Council meets annually to
								  review policies, procedures and parent handbook.
6. One group meeting per year offered to all
								  families.
7. One parent education workshop offered per
								  year by center or other agency.
The following footnotes reference program criteria and
						staff qualifications in Section 5119:
Staff Qualifications
1The following may be
						substituted to meet this requirement of three semester hour credits in the care
						of young children or child development: a current CDA or have approved high
						school child development courses or have five years full-time experience in an
						early childhood program or have completed a Child Care Assistant Teacher 1 LA
						Pathways Classroom Certificate. The following may be used to meet the
						requirement of up to six semester hour credits in the care of young children or
						child development: current CDA or have completed a Child Care Assistant Teacher
						2 LA Pathways Classroom Certificate. An individual may use the above
						substitutions to meet the requirements for a maximum of six semester hour
						credits.
2The following may be
						substituted to meet the requirement for three semester hour credits in
						administration: LA Pathways Administrator Certificate or National Administrator
						Credential (NAC) or three years experience in administration or a combination
						of one year in administration experience and four years in teaching young
						children in an early childhood program.
NOTE For Director Qualification: Experience in teaching
						young children or administration may only be substituted one time. At the next
						rating review, the necessary educational requirement (credits in the care of
						young children or child development or credits in administration) must be
						met.
3For the purpose of this
						document, the designated social-emotional subscale of the ERS is defined as
						consisting of the following subscales: ITERS-R - Listening and Talking,
						Interaction and Program Structure; ECERS-R - Language-Reasoning, Interaction
						and Program Structure.
4 Staff benefits options:
						employee health insurance or comparable health benefits; paid annual leave;
						paid sick leave; paid holiday; child care benefit/discount; bonus based on
						merit/achievement or education; retirement compensation; annual increments
						based on merit; tuition reimbursement and other related educational expenses
						such as books, travel, fees, substitutes; differential shift pay, flextime,
						paid professional association fee.