Parents searching for early care and education in Ohio have an important tool to help them make a decision: Ohio’s Step Up To Quality program.

Research confirms that the first five years of a child’s life has a direct impact on how children develop emotional well-being, in addition to learning and social skills. For these reasons, the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services and the Ohio Department of Education are committed to improving early childhood opportunities for all children in the state.

 Step Up To Quality is a rating system that awards one to five stars to learning and development programs that go above and beyond minimum licensing standards. Star-rated programs lay the foundation for children’s learning and development and build skills that are important for success in school and in life.

Programs with 5-star ratings:

• Have highly trained teachers
• Develop children’s school readiness skills
• Are committed to continuous improvement
• Value relationships with families and communities