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In 2022, the NYS Office of Children and Families Services (OCFS) launched the Invest in New York: Child Care Deserts Grant, which offered two grant opportunities to help providers open and expand early childhood programs in New York’s child care deserts. A child care desert is defined as an area that [...]
The application for the QUALITYstarsNY Academic Scholarship for the spring 2024 semester is open October 1 - November 10, 2024. If you work in an early childhood program participating in QUALITYstarsNY and are pursuing an early childhood education degree or credit-bearing coursework, you may be eligible to apply for the scholarship!
As New York State's Quality Rating and Improvement System for early childhood programs, QUALITYstarsNY has the unique opportunity to work with different organizations in communities across the state. In this ongoing series, we will highlight some of our local partners and the work we collaborate on to improve and sustain high-quality care [...]
Have you ever paused to consider the learning environment you're creating for young children in your program? Does it truly reflect the philosophy that inspired you when you first set out on this journey? If it does, what are the elements that bring this philosophy to life in your space? If not, it may be time to revisit that foundational philosophy and consider how and why children learn, ensuring that your environment mirrors these values.
Summer is a natural time to reflect on your program’s calendar. Do you intentionally create a program calendar for staff meetings and professional development? Do you have an internal policy or procedure for how many staff meetings are held per year or how they are executed? What are some ways you share important updates and new information with staff?
Our Recruitment and Engagement Associate, Gray Robinson, documented his first time at the NYAEYC Annual Conference. Read highlights from his experience as a member of the QUALITYstarsNY team attending the conference and all the valuable professional development and networking opportunities provided throughout the three-day event. [...]
QUALITYstarsNY is launching the new QUALITYstarsNY Academic Scholarship on July 1, 2024. This scholarship can support teachers and program leaders in completing an early childhood education degree or credit-bearing certification, credential, or coursework.
Quality Improvement Specialist Lisa Stoler collaborated with QUALITYstarsNY participant Dorothy (Dottie) Semexant of Dottie's Home Daycare and Preschool to write a thoughtful piece for Brightside Up’s "Home & Classroom Magazine".
QUALITYstarsNY is releasing revisions to guidance around evidence requirements for the Standards Inventory submission process, which will go into effect January 31, 2025. Learn more about the revisions and access the updated Standards Guidance documents to prepare for these changes.
QUALITYstarsNY sat down with Ashley Martin, Director of Creative Kids of Kent Ashley Martin received the “Director of the Year” award at the Champions of Child Care event hosted by the Child Care Council of Dutchess-Putnam, Inc. She has worked with Creative Kids since 2006 and was promoted to the director [...]