Keystone STARS Designation Processes for FY 20/21

The Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) has released the Keystone STARS designation processes and protocols for fiscal year 20/21 (FY 20/21).

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Beginning Sept. 1, 2020, the designation process for Keystone STARS will include virtual options for both renewals and move-ups to mitigate the risk of virus transmission. This protocol will remain in place during the COVID-19 pandemic conditions and until further notice from OCDEL.

Each Early Learning Resource Center (ELRC) will be implementing a virtual designation procedure that has been approved by OCDEL. These individualized plans allow each ELRC to meet the unique needs of the programs within their regions.

Additionally, OCDEL has suspended the requirement for STAR 3 and 4 programs to have an external Program Quality Assessment (PQA) for FY 2020. In place of an external PQA, during FY 2020, STAR 3 and 4 programs will work with their ELRC Quality Coach and a member of the Pennsylvania Key PQA Team to develop an Internal Assessment Process (IAP). This IAP will help to guide the program’s Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) plan and activities.

OCDEL also has directed ELRCs to grant six-month extensions to programs’ Keystone STARS designations for all those with expiration dates from March through Aug. 31, 2020. These extensions were designed to allow programs to focus on health and safety practices rather than on activities associated with designation renewals.

The processes detail:

• Designation protocols with virtual components

• Keystone STARS paperwork renewals

• Professional Development tracking grids for teaching staff and non-instructional staff

For complete details about the Keystone STARS processes, read OCDEL’s full announcement.