Current through all regulations passed and filed through March 18, 2024
(A) What programs qualify for a desk review
conducted by the Ohio department of job and family services (ODJFS), the county
agency or the Ohio department of education (ODE)?
Programs who are eligible pursuant to rule
5101:2-17-02
of the Administrative Code and have submitted a completed registration.
(B) How are ratings awarded?
(1) The program shall not be awarded a rating
higher than was confirmed by the program during the registration process if the
program confirms at a one-star, two-star or three-star rating.
(2) The program may be awarded a higher
rating if it's determined that the program meets the criteria and the program
confirms at a four-star rating.
(3)
A program may not be awarded a rating, or a lower star rating may be assessed,
if at the desk review or on-site verification visit the program does not meet
the standards for the rating the program confirmed at registration.
(C) How long does a star rating
last?
If the program meets the standards for a star rating and the
requirements for maintaining a star rating, the following shall occur:
(1) One-star rated programs shall be rated
for a period of one year.
(2)
Two-star rated programs shall be rated for a period of one year.
(a) A two-star rated program shall register
for a one, three, four, or five-star rating between one hundred eighty days and
two hundred seventy days after the two-star rating effective date.
(b) If a program fails to register by day two
hundred seventy, the rating shall be immediately discontinued.
(c) A program may only be awarded a two-star
rating once every four years from the end of the two-star rating.
(3) Three-star rated programs
shall be rated for a period of two years.
(4) Four and five-star rated programs shall
be rated for a period of three years.
(D) How is a deferral issued?
(1) A deferral may be issued at the
conclusion of the on-site verification visit or at the time of the annual
report if the program cannot demonstrate it is meeting the standards.
(2) If the program cannot meet the deferral
requirement within the time frame given, a lesser star rating may be
awarded.
(E) When is a
rating effective?
The rating shall be effective:
(1) The Sunday following the thirtieth day
after the completion of the on-site verification visit.
(2) If a deferral was issued, the Sunday
following the thirtieth day after the end of the deferral period.
(3) The Sunday following approval or license
begin date, whichever is later, after:
(a) The
desk review;
(b) A rating is
awarded pursuant to paragraph (F) or (G) of this rule; or
(c) The annual report review.
(F) What are the
requirements if a program owner, with multiple rated programs, wants to have a
new program's rating expedited?
(1) The
program shall request the rating in the Ohio child licensing and quality system
(OCLQS) at
https://oclqs.force.com
during the application process or within the first thirty days of the
provisional license period.
(2) The
program's owner shall own multiple licensed programs that include the
following:
(a) At least fifty per cent of the
owner's programs have a star rating; and
(b) Two or more of the programs have a three,
four or five-star rating.
(3) The rating awarded shall equal the lowest
rating of the three, four or five-star rated programs if the program meets the
following:
(a) All administrator and staff
qualifications shall be met pursuant to the appendices to rule
5101:2-17-01
of the Administrative Code for the star rating to be awarded.
(b) The program implements a written,
researched-based, comprehensive curriculum aligned with the early learning and
development standards and/or the Ohio K-12 standards, appropriate to the age
group served and which shows alignment to the program's identified assessment
process.
(4) If the
program is unable to meet the requirements of paragraph (F)(3) of this rule, a
lesser star rating may be awarded.
(5) In order to continue the star rating, the
program shall:
(a) Submit an initial
registration within one hundred twenty days of the rating begin date;
and
(b) Comply with a desk review
including documents returned for revision and the on-site verification
visit.
(6) If the new
program fails to comply with paragraph (F)(5) of this rule, the rating shall be
discontinued one hundred twenty days after the rating begin date.
(G) What are the requirements to
continue a rating if the program's owner changes?
(1) An initial program applicant may be
awarded a rating when the owner is changing if the following requirements are
met:
(a) The currently rated program has been
rated for the previous thirteen months.
(b) The new program requests the rating in
OCLQS during the application process or within the first thirty days of the
provisional license period.
(2) The rating awarded shall equal the
current rating if the program meets the following:
(a) All administrator and staff
qualifications shall be met pursuant to the appendices to rule
5101:2-17-01
of the Administrative Code for the star rating to be awarded.
(b) The program implements a written,
researched-based, comprehensive curriculum aligned with the early learning and
development standards and/or the Ohio K-12 standards, appropriate to the age
group served and which shows alignment to the program's identified assessment
process.
(3) If the
program is unable to meet all of the requirements of paragraph (G)(2) of this
rule, a lesser star rating may be awarded.
(4) In order to continue the star rating, the
program shall:
(a) Submit an initial
registration within one hundred twenty days of the rating begin date:
and.
(b) Comply with a desk review
including documents returned for revision and the on-site verification
visit.
(5) If the
program fails to comply with paragraph (G)(4) of this rule, the rating shall be
discontinued one hundred twenty days after the rating begin date.
(H) Will the star rating continue
if a program changes its location?
Yes the star rating shall continue.
(I) If a star rated family child care
provider changes from a licensed type A home to a licensed type B home or from
a licensed type B home to a licensed type A home, will the star rating
continue?
Yes the star rating shall continue.
(J) Will the star rating be reinstated if a
program was previously rated and the rating was discontinued due to the program
being in temporary closure status for more than ninety days pursuant to rule
5101:2-12-02
or
5101:2-13-02
of the Administrative Code?
(1) The rating
may be reinstated if the program requests the reinstatement in OCLQS within the
first thirty days after reinstatement of the continuous license.
If the program has a provider agreement to provide
publicly funded child care pursuant to Chapter 5101:2-16 of the Administrative
Code and does not request to reinstate its star rating prior to the reopening
of the license, the program may have a gap in PFCC services.
(2) The reinstated rating shall equal the
prior rating if the program meets all of the following:
(a) All administrators and staff
qualifications shall be met pursuant to the appendices to rule
5101:2-17-01
of the Administrative Code for the star rating to be awarded.
(b) The program meets the curriculum and
assessment requirements pursuant to the appendices to rule
5101:2-17-01
of the Administrative Code for the star rating to be awarded.
(3) If the program is unable to
meet the requirements of paragraph (J)(2) of this rule, a lesser star rating
may be awarded.
(4) Once the
reinstated star rating has been awarded, in order to continue the rating, the
program shall:
(a) Submit an ongoing
registration within one hundred twenty days of the rating begin date.
(b) Comply with a desk review and an on-site
verification visit.
(5)
What if the program fails to comply with paragraph (J)(4) of this rule?
The rating shall be discontinued one hundred twenty days after
the rating begin date.
(K) What if ODJFS, ODE or the county agency
determine the program is not meeting any of the standards outlined in the
appendices to rule
5101:2-17-01
of the Administrative Code?
The program shall:
(1)
Comply with any desk reviews or on-site verification visits.
(2) Submit any documents requested by ODJFS,
ODE or the county agency.
(L) What are the requirements for rated programs displaying
marketing materials?
The program shall:
(1)
Use SUTQ marketing materials only for the current rating.
(2) Meet the branding and logo requirements
outlined by ODJFS for marketing materials.