For years, families in Ohio have used the Step Up To Quality five-star rating system as a measure of the child care programs that go above and beyond licensing requirements. Now, the state of Ohio is making a change to those rankings, and it is leading families to forgo the notion of stars and instead look for Gold, Silver and Bronze designations.
The timing of this change – officially in effect July 7 – as a precursor to the 2024 Summer Olympics is purely coincidence. Programs that were previously classified as one-star or two-star will be recognized as Bronze programs; three-star programs will be recognized as Silver programs; and four- and five-star programs will be recognized as Gold programs. Programs that are rated as Silver and Gold are regarded as “Highly Rated.”
This modification isn’t just about relabeling the signage outside a program – it increases requirements by adding additional quality standards to all rating levels. By making these changes, child care programs in Ohio will do more to help every young child reach their full potential and be winners in life.
