Latest News
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.
To better prepare new programs to engage with the QUALITYstarsNY participation process, we will begin requiring all applicants to QUALITYstarsNY to attend an Information Session before they can be selected. This policy change will help to streamline our onboarding process and ensure new programs understand the Continuous Quality Improvement goals that come with QUALITYstarsNY participation.
Every year, Child and Family Services assists families experiencing challenges during the holiday season through their Adopt-a-Family Program. With the support of donors, wish lists with gifts and essentials for hundreds of people are fulfilled, allowing them to join in on holiday fun and create lasting memories with their loved ones. The Western New York regional team was honored to give back and make a meaningful difference for families in their community during the holiday season.
Our team of Quality Improvement Specialists and Central Office staff traveled across New York State to attend over 60 state-wide conferences, local events, trainings, and much more in 2025. We had the privilege of presenting, coordinating, and tabling at events, meeting early childhood professionals in their communities from Long Island to Buffalo. Check [...]
The QUALITYstarsNY team came together for our 2025 All-Staff Summit in Saratoga Springs, NY, where we spent three days focused on learning and connection. We explored valuable resources in the early childhood field, shared impactful stories and enjoyed fun activities!
Schenectady Day Nursery (SDN), a longtime QUALITYstarsNY participant, just held a groundbreaking ceremony to celebrate an expansion project that will increase access to high-quality early childhood education for families throughout Schenectady County, an area recognized as a child care desert due to its limited child care options.
In October, QUALITYstarsNY’s Finger Lakes region Quality Improvement Specialists (QI Specialists) and participating programs gathered for a day that blended creativity, collaboration, and hands-on learning. The team partnered with Studio in a School in NYC to provide participants with an in-person training day that brought providers and educators together to explore the power of artistic expression—not only as a tool for teaching, but as a pathway for strengthening community and refreshing their own professional practice.
Incorporating music into your program is a wonderful way to support children’s brain development and provide them with engaging learning opportunities across all domains. However, not all musical experiences are created equally. With the increased use of phones, tablets, TV’s and smart boards in early childhood classrooms as our children’s music and movement time, let’s take a minute to examine some high-quality ways to support children’s development and learning with music in our early childhood spaces.
On November 7, QUALITYstarsNY was featured on Buffalo's local news program, Daytime Buffalo to discuss the support we provide as New York State's Quality Rating & Improvement System. Quality Improvement Specialists Jill Boeck and Susan DiNatale were joined by Barbara Stone Reden from JCC Buffalo and Rachelle Robinson from Lighthouse Center. The group discussed QUALITYstarsNY's [...]