(A)
What are the step
up to quality (SUTQ) definitions for the purposes of implementing Chapter
5101:2-17 of the Administrative Code?
(1)
"Administrator"
means the following:
(a)
Ohio department of job and family services (ODJFS)
licensed child care center administrator as described in rule
5101:2-12-07
of the Administrative Code.
(b)
ODJFS licensed
family child care provider as described in rule
5101:2-13-07
of the Administrative Code.
(c)
Ohio department
of education (ODE) licensed preschool director as defined in rule
3301-37-01 of the
Administrative Code.
(d)
ODE licensed staff member as described in rule
3301-32-02 of the
Administrative Code.
(2)
"Approved related
fields" means the following:
(a)
Early childhood education teacher approved related
fields include:
early childhood education, child
development, family studies, human ecology, human development, child and family
community studies, elementary education, early intervention (ECE or special
education), elementary, middle or secondary education, physical education,
elementary intervention, and school counselor, or other degrees as approved by
ODJFS and ODE.
(b)
Approved related child development fields include
psychology, and recreation management if twelve semester or eighteen quarter
hours of child development coursework, with a grade of C or better from an
accredited institution of higher education, is completed.
(3)
"Assistant teacher" means a child care care staff member who
works under the supervision of a lead teacher. Assistant teachers may work
independently in a lead teacher's absence, but for the majority of time the
assistant teacher works directly with the lead teacher in the same space with
the same children.
(4)
"Child care staff" means:
(a)
ODJFS licensed
child care center staff member as described in rule
5101:2-12-08
of the Administrative Code.
(b)
ODJFS licensed
family child care provider staff member as described in rule
5101:2-13-08
of the Administrative Code.
(c)
ODE licensed
preschool staff member, head teacher, teacher, and non-teaching employee as
defined in rule
3301-37-01 of the
Administrative Code.
(5)
"Family child
care provider" means:
(a)
ODJFS licensed type A home provider.
(b)
ODJFS licensed
type B home provider.
(6)
"Instructional
time" means the time the group spends with the lead teacher each day, excluding
nap or rest time.
(a)
The lead teacher shall interact with children a minimum
of three and one-half hours daily for at least half the days of each week the
program operates.
(b)
If a group requires two or more child care staff
members to meet ratio, there shall be a lead teacher and an assistant teacher
present. Co-lead teachers may be used to meet this requirement.
(c)
The assistant or
co-lead teacher shall meet this requirement the other days of the
week.
(d)
If a program or group operates less than three and
one-half hours daily, the lead teacher shall be present for the entire
day.
(e)
School-age programs shall have a lead teacher for the
duration of either a total of three and one-half hours, the complete before
school session, or the complete after school session. On non-school days, the
program shall meet the three and one-half hour requirement as stated in
paragraph (A) (7) to this rule.
(7)
"Lead teacher"
means the adult who has primary responsibility for the group of children. The
lead teacher shall meet the three and one-half hour minimum instruction time
daily, not including nap or rest, for more than half of the days in operation
each week. The lead teacher is responsible for activity planning and
implementing the curriculum and child assessment requirements related to the
current star rating level.
(8)
"Program" means
any of the following:
(a)
Family child care provider.
(b)
ODJFS licensed
child care center.
(c)
ODE licensed preschool.
(d)
ODE licensed
school child program.
(9)"Substitute" means
the following:
(a)
A child care staff member who replaces an assigned
staff member for fewer than ninety days.
(b)
What if the
substitute is providing care for more than ninety days?
The substitute shall become the lead
teacher or assistant and meet the requirements of the lead or assistant
pursuant to this chapter.
(B)
What are the
standards that shall be met to be star rated?
(1)
The program shall
comply with the desk review and the on-site verification visit.
(2)
ODJFS licensed
child care centers, ODE licensed preschools and ODE licensed school child
programs shall meet all of the standards for the star rating requested at
registration as listed in appendices A, B, C, and D to this
rule.
(3)
Family child care providers shall meet all of the
standards for the star rating requested at registration as listed in appendices
E, F, G and H to this rule.
(4)
Programs who
register for a four or five-star rating may be awarded points based on the
verification of the three-star rating requirements and their ability to earn
additional points as outlined in appendices D and H to this
rule.
(5)
A program shall obtain at least one point in each of
the following domains in order to achieve a four or five-star rating:
(a)
Learning and
development.
(b)
Administrative and leadership
practices.
(c)
Staff qualifications and professional
development.
(d)
Family and community partnerships.
(6)
How
many points shall be earned to achieve a four-star rating?
(a)
ODJFS licensed
child care centers and ODE licensed preschool or licensed school child programs
shall score thirty-five to fifty-five points. Points are indicated in appendix
D to this rule.
(b)
Family child care providers shall score thirty to
forty-five points. Points are indicated in appendix H to this
rule.
(7)
How many points shall be earned to achieve a five-star
rating?
(a)
ODJFS licensed child care centers, ODE licensed preschools
and licensed school child programs shall score fifty-six to seventy-nine
points. Points are indicated in appendix D to this rule.