Welcome, early childhood education professionals!

This page is your resource for all things regarding the Delaware Stars QRIS revision, including updates on progress, upcoming exchanges, important dates, and answers to your questions.

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The Transition Process Has Begun for the New Delaware Stars

Please take a few minutes to review the above video that will walk you through the transition phases.

Additionally, you can access the presentation slides shown in the video here.

Key Takeaways

• Verifications based on the 2014 Delaware Stars standards will not resume.
• Licensed early care and education programs not currently participating in Delaware Stars are welcome to apply! Newly enrolled programs will begin with the revised system.
• The transition to the revised model includes one ‘No Harm’ year in which programs will not be required to verify and star levels will not expire. This is time for programs to engage with the revised system before “official” verifications begin.
• We need you! Your participation and feedback throughout the revision process is highly encouraged and helps us move forward.

The graphic below represents the standards for the revised Delaware Stars. The new system includes seven standards that represent broader content areas.  Each standard is interdependent on another and necessary for creating a culture of continuous quality improvement.  

Please click on the individual standard for a set of key practices that define the standard.  Pathways support each practice and serve as guidance in advancing your work.

Delaware Stars is here to support programs and professionals through these pathways.

Where We Are

The transition process is underway. Thanks to your feedback and input from other early childhood stakeholders statewide and nationally, we’ve learned a lot about creating a QRIS that is equitable and incorporates a cycle of continuous quality improvement (CQI) throughout.

The revised Delaware Stars is a hybrid model aligned with DELACARE licensing regulations. The revised system includes Seven Standards, which represent broader content areas. The DELACARE licensing regulations and the Business Practices standard include required components that work together to assist programs in creating the conditions for quality. The remaining six standards (see the graphic below) represent quality practices and build upon that strong foundation.

A set of Key Practices defines each standard.

Each Key Practice has a Pathway to support programs in continuous quality improvement. Delaware Stars is here to support programs and professionals through these pathways.

Pathways for Delaware Stars Key Practices

As outlined we’re in the process of transitioning to the revised Delaware Stars.

• Phase 1 is focused on testing the revised standards and key practices along with developing training and technical assistance to support the revised system.
• Phase 2 is focused on rolling out the training and technical assistance supports along with testing the verification processes.
• Phase 3 is focused on providing the quality improvement supports and implementing practice verifications.

We’re starting now in Phase 1 with center-based programs. Your input is vital!

• Focus Groups
  • Center-based program leaders (owners, directors, curriculum coordinators)
  • Center-based classroom teachers
  • School district professionals
  • Head Start professionals
  • Childcare administrators not currently participating in Delaware Stars
  • Childcare teachers not currently participating in Delaware Stars
• Individual Interviews

Revision Goals

Following are the goals that are guiding the revision.

• Ratings are closely aligned to factors proven to improve and sustain child, family, workforce, and program outcomes.
• The Stars system incorporates multiple indicators of program quality.
• Each level of Stars incorporates a cycle of Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI).
• Equity and inclusion are demonstrated throughout the Stars system.
• The financial incentive and provider support structures are revised to better meet the needs of all programs and support CQI.
• Further align early childhood systems and create/improve data linkages.

Why the Revision?

Like your program, Delaware Stars is in a continuous quality improvement cycle. We use what we’ve learned to improve the system to support you in providing quality care and education.

To formally evaluate the Delaware Stars system, Delaware contracted with the RAND Corporation from 2013-2016 to conduct an independent evaluation. Additionally, we looked at other states QRIS to gain insights on Delaware Stars.

Here are some of the key learnings:

• Program quality increased modestly as star levels increased.
• FCCs tended to have higher quality scores.
• Children’s executive functioning skills were modestly higher in star level 5 programs
• Management & Administration and Qualifications & Professional Development domains moderately (positively) related to children’s cognitive skills.
• We need to pay more attention to workforce issues.
• Program and classroom quality measurement needs improvement.
• We may be leaving out important quality variables in QRIS such as– children’s engagement, continuity, stability, etc.