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By Rachel Zielinski, QUALITYstarsNY Quality Improvement Specialist, Finger Lakes WXXI Education and the Educators' Resource Center at Monroe Community College hosted a community screening of the film "Make a Circle" by Jen Bradwell and Todd Boekelheide. The evening began with participants visiting vendor tables of community partners, including QUALITYstarsNY, the Finger Lakes Career Development [...]
QUALITYstarsNY is excited to attend the New York Association for the Education of Young Children’s annual conference in April in Verona, NY. Check out the schedule of workshops QUALITYstarsNY is leading at this year's meeting and we're to find us in the Exhibit Hall.
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.
Lois Campbell & Yates Daycare recently won a reading challenge put on by the Wakefield Library. Wakefield Library in the Bronx challenged schools and students in their community to read 200 books. Lois Campbell & Yates not only rose to the challenge but surpassed it.
In February, QUALITYstarsNY participant Ivy Tilson and her program, The Little Bumblebee, hosted New York Governor Kathy Hochul, New Rochelle Mayor Yadira Ramos-Herbert, and Office of Children and Family Services Commissioner DaMia Harris-Madden for a conversation about universal child care. Ivy, her staff, and many young children enjoyed the visit with Gov. [...]
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.
In February 2026, Hunger Solutions New York hosted information sessions for QUALITYstarsNY participants to deepen best practices around food services and menu planning. Watch the information sessions and download the presentation slides to learn more about participating and maximizing your participation in CACFP.
February 4, 2026 is World Read Aloud Day. Organized by LitWorld, World Read Aloud Day celebrates how reading aloud to children strengthens emotional well-being, social connection, and academic success. This year, the QUALITYstarsNY team joined in the global celebration by sharing their favorite children's books and why they love them. We hope educators and [...]
QUALITYstarsNY is pleased to announce that New York State is now offering an enhanced Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) rate for early childhood programs actively participating in QUALITYstarsNY, New York State’s Quality Rating & Improvement System. OCFS made the announcement that as of December 24, 2025, districts may choose [...]
Discovery Schoolhouse, a science-based preschool located in Lake View, approaches early childhood education with a simple philosophy: learning is child’s play. Nestled in a wilderness setting, the school uses its natural surroundings as an extension of the classroom, encouraging children to explore, experiment, and discover through outdoor play.