New York’s Quality Rating & Improvement System
QUALITYstarsNY is New York’s Quality Rating and Improvement System (QRIS) for early childhood programs, providing support and resources to improve and sustain high quality across New York State. We believe that all early childhood educators are committed to the young children they work with and are always intrinsically motivated to improve their practice. QUALITYstarsNY exists because we believe that early childhood educators across the state deserve the support to engage in continuous quality improvement.
Participate in 
Join QUALITYstarsNY to receive individualized support and resources to enhance the quality of your early childhood program. All types of regulated child care programs are eligible to participate in QUALITYstarsNY at no cost to programs. Interested in participating? Apply now or attend a virtual Information Session to learn more about QUALITYstarsNY and the benefits of participating.
Find an Early Childhood Program in Your Area
Search our interactive map to find early childhood programs participating in QUALITYstarsNY in your area! By participating in QUALITYstarsNY, programs demonstrate a commitment to excellence and are supported with a range of resources and expert guidance to create the best program they can for the children and families they serve.
Featured Resources
For Providers
Program Spotlight: Friendship Children’s Center of Rochester Kindergarten Transition Event
Kindergarten transitions can be especially difficult for children, as moving from a familiar setting to a new, often larger setting can bring on many emotions and feelings of uncertainty. Partnering with the local school district to host a kindergarten transition event can help children and families feel more prepared for this new experience. Friendship Children’s Center of Rochester recently visited Rochester City School District School No. 45. for a kindergarten transition event. Joi McMurtry, the executive director, reflected on this experience.
Nature Nurtures Literacy: Books, Bugs, & Backpack Learning
In May, the Finger Lakes Quality Improvement Specialists, in collaboration with Monroe County Library's Children’s Services Consultant Tonia Burton, welcomed family and group family child care providers to the Maplewood Community Library for an amazing day of outdoor learning! The hands-on professional development event, titled "Nature Nurtures Literacy: Books, Bugs, & Backpack Learning," focused on enriching children's literacy experiences by embracing nature and the outdoors.
Lean Into Play
Children’s play is an essential place for their brains to have a variety of experiences that support their growth and development. Family child care provides a loving space for children to experience the magic of play. It can provide them with the opportunities to build the foundational skills needed for continued and more finite learning as they grow older.
Teacher Creativity and Lesson Planning: Making Room for Possibility
Creativity is something we talk about often in early childhood education — but it’s not always something teachers feel free to practice. For many educators, lesson planning can feel like a choice between following the plan and following the child. In play-based programs, that tension deserves a closer look.
For Families
Transitions & Brave Hearts: Easing Separation Anxiety in Early Childhood
As summer winds down, many families find themselves in a season of big transitions. Children may be moving into a new classroom, starting kindergarten, or attending daycare or preschool for the very first time. While these milestones are exciting steps forward, they can also stir up feelings of separation anxiety for both children and parents. As early childhood educators, it’s important to reassure families that separation anxiety is a normal part of child development, and with the right supports, children can build the confidence and security they need to thrive.
Quality Care Checklist & Guide
View this guide to the options you have for child care, with a breakdown of the different features of each.
Choosing a quality early care and education program
Check out our brochure for help finding and promoting quality early learning experiences for your child!