YoungStar is built on the foundation of child care regulation. Therefore, in order to earn a 2 Star rating or higher, a provider must be in regulatory compliance.
- Providers that participate in YoungStar and are in regulatory compliance meet the requirements to earn a 2 Star rating.
- To earn a 3, 4, or 5 Star rating, providers must demonstrate quality practices beyond what is required for regulation.
- Providers that have had their licenses or certifications revoked, denied, or suspended are rated 1 Star and families cannot receive Wisconsin Shares authorizations to attend the program.
All providers that participate in YoungStar and are in regulatory compliance MUST complete a rating process once every other year. Providers are able to select the type of rating process they wish to complete on their YoungStar Contract or YoungStar Renewal Contract. Providers can choose to be rated:
- Onsite (with YoungStar Evaluation Criteria)
- Through an automated 2 Star process
- Based on accreditation status (can be chosen only if the provider has completed accreditation)
- Based on Head Start status (can be chosen only if the provider is a federally recognized full-day Head Start program)
Choosing an Onsite Rating
When you choose to receive an onsite rating your YoungStar Connect Coach will use the YoungStar Evaluation Criteria to assess your program.
- For providers that are not accredited and are not a Head Start site, an onsite rating is required to earn a 3, 4, or 5 Star rating, but could result in a 2 Star rating
- Providers that are eligible to earn a 3, 4, or 5 Star rating will also be given the opportunity to be observed using the appropriate Environment Rating Scale(s) (ERS).
- Providers wishing to achieve a 4 or 5 Star rating must complete one or more ERS observations. If you need additional resources regarding the Environment Rating Scales please visit this support page
The YoungStar Evaluation Criteria is broken up into four key areas and increases the requirements in each area as you move up the star levels. These four key areas, or elements, are: Lead Staff Education, Learning Environment and Curriculum, Business and Professional Practices, and Health and Well-Being. Additionally, YoungStar recognizes that family child care settings look different than group child care programs and both look different than school-age care or day camp programs. Therefore, each provider type has its own version of the YoungStar Evaluation Criteria. Select the appropriate version of the YoungStar Evaluation Criteria below, based on your provider type and language preference, to prepare for an onsite rating and to learn more about high-quality early education practices:
To view the document that your coach will be using to complete their rating, select the appropriate version of the Rating Verification Document below, based on your provider type and language preference:
For more information on the YoungStar Evaluation Criteria, including YoungStar Rating Details (which include the research and rationale behind every indicator), YoungStar Block Rating diagrams (to see a condensed version of all indicators required at each level), and updates on any YoungStar Evaluation Criteria revision processes, visit DCF’s website.
Note: DCF developed- and periodically revises- the YoungStar Evaluation Criteria which is foundationally based on research related to child development and improved child outcomes. Over the years, DCF has revised it several times to incorporate feedback from stakeholders like providers, families, coaches, and other ECE and school-age care associations.
Choosing a Rating Based on Accreditation
Providers that are already accredited by one of the agencies that is accepted as equivalent to a YoungStar rating can request an automated rating of 4 or 5 Star based on the accrediting body and the provider’s educational qualifications (as applicable). A copy of the YoungStar Accreditation Policy and a list of accrediting agencies that are accepted as equivalent to a YoungStar rating can be found here.
Providers that select this option must send proof of the accreditation, and any accreditation renewals, to the Department of Children and Families on a timely basis to ensure that their YoungStar rating is correct. Proof of accreditation can be faxed to 608-422-7156 or emailed to youngstar@wisconsin.gov.
Choosing a Rating Based on Head Start Status
Providers that already offer Head Start and/or Early Head Start programming that is accepted as equivalent to a YoungStar rating can request an automated 5 Star rating based on this programming. A copy of the Policy on Head Start Participation in YoungStar and the requirements that need to be met to be considered equivalent to a YoungStar 5 Star rating can be found here.
Choosing an Automated 2 Star Rating
Providers that participate in YoungStar and are in regulatory compliance meet all the requirements to earn a 2 Star rating. Choosing to complete an automated 2 Star rating process allows a provider to participate in YoungStar without being assessed on the YoungStar Evaluation Criteria. Providers that select this option CANNOT earn a rating higher than a 2 Star rating.
