Streamlining the Keystone STARS Designation System

The Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL), in partnership with the Pennsylvania Key, has been developing enhancements to Keystone STARS Designation System by adding functionality within the Professional Development (PD) Registry. The goal is that these enhancements will ensure Early Childhood Education (ECE) professionals and programs have a more streamlined process and consolidated system for a single point of access.

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On October 1, 2021, the process for STARS pre-designation and designation applications will be housed in the PD Registry. Moving more functionality into the PD Registry will streamline multiple processes into one system and designation for providers. Additional benefits include:

  • Single sign on in the PD Registry replaces need for outside databases (document uploader)

  • Connects to and communicates with other systems, such as PELICAN

  • A document vault to store sources of evidence that can be reused at future designations Reports auto-generated from data within the PD Registry available as evidence for STARS designation (such as staff qualifications)

Directors will have a dashboard within their organization profile to be able to view:

  • Current Rating and Expiration Date

  • Designation Status and History

  • Quality Improvement Plan Application for STARS Rating

  • Coaching and Technical Assistance within their Organization

The new system will replace:

  • SMART Designation Software

  • Keystone STARS Document Uploader

  • Portions of Provider Self Service (PSS)

PELICAN and portions of PSS will remain following the launch and implementation of the new STARS Designation system.

Contact the ELRC Region 5 for more information.

News, ProvidersHeidi Winkler