Keystone STARS Program

The Pennsylvania Keystone STARS Program is in the process of rewriting standards for family providers.

Child Care Providers United (CCPUnited) members are on the standards committee, and CCPUnited will be holding forums across the state to solicit input on the new regulations before they are finalized. If you are interested in hosting or attending a forum, please  contact our office.

The Pennsylvania Keystone Standards, Training/Professional Development, Assistance, Resources and Support (STARS) Program is sponsored by the Department of Public Welfare’s Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) and is the state’s quality ratings system for registered and licensed child care providers. The program is designed to provide professional development support for early childhood education.

Registered family providers are eligible to enroll in STARS and to move up through various STARS program levels by participating in both on-line and classroom training. Currently, relative neighbor providers are eligible only for on-line and classroom training but not for enrollment in STARS.

There are four STAR levels, and each STAR designation has its own research-based performance standard, which provides the foundation for the program. Family child care providers participating at a STAR 2 level or above receive additional subsidy money for every child they serve who is also enrolled in Child Care Works through the local Child Care Information Services (CCIS) office. There is grant money available at each STAR level including the entry level, Start with STARS, and the amount of subsidy payments increases at each level.