Opting Out of "Stars" Program Because....

[Annalee]

I didn't even read all the answers, but yes, yes, yes!

A couple weeks ago, I was sitting with my husband having coffee, and my teens were hanging out for a few minutes chatting. DCK #1 arrived (baby) I sat him on my lap and snuggled. 7am, mind you. DCK #2 came a couple minutes later (2yo), ran to the playroom, got a stuffed animal, then joined us on the couch. We sat there maybe 20 minutes, just chatting, then DH and the kids went on their way.

While I sat there, I thought, to me THIS is family childcare.

It's not washing your hands after touching the dog, it's not having a science center, a dramatic play area, a reading corner, a math area, a manipulative center, a block area, a gross motor space, a space for alone time, art supplies always available, having at least 3 books available at all times for each age group, coats separated by at least 12 inches for sanitation, toothbrushes being in separate containers, counting out enough wipes ahead of time for a diaper change, being in sight AND sound, not allowing children to wait more than 3 minutes for a meal, singing songs on the way to the bathroom, outdoor time, indoor time, handwashing...whew! It's not that some of those things aren't important. But, a there are so many ways to provide art, music, language, and literacy, for instance. Having centers is great, but not necessary.

How can you really measure quality, when it's about the personal relationships you develop with the children and their families? That you get to know the children's personalities, what's important to them, how to respond to them as individuals and still honor who YOU are?

I have one child on state assistance. He's the oldest in the group, and once he moves on, I will also opt out.

You are SOOOOOO RIGHT!

FCCERS-R leaves the relationship out of the equation for Quality Child Care! Sadly, this is becoming a National problem where at first it was limited to a few states like mine. :confused:

[sharlan]

I will quit when (IF) it hits CA. I'm 60, have had a baby on my hip since I was 13. I went to college back in the early 70's but don't have a degree. I don't have the desire or energy to play their games.

I've started taking classes through our local R&R and they are a huge waste of time. I haven't learned anything yet. The class last week was held by a former provider who is now an accountant (EA) and she was super informative.

[Laurel]

I didn't even read all the answers, but yes, yes, yes!

A couple weeks ago, I was sitting with my husband having coffee, and my teens were hanging out for a few minutes chatting. DCK #1 arrived (baby) I sat him on my lap and snuggled. 7am, mind you. DCK #2 came a couple minutes later (2yo), ran to the playroom, got a stuffed animal, then joined us on the couch. We sat there maybe 20 minutes, just chatting, then DH and the kids went on their way.

While I sat there, I thought, to me THIS is family childcare.

It's not washing your hands after touching the dog, it's not having a science center, a dramatic play area, a reading corner, a math area, a manipulative center, a block area, a gross motor space, a space for alone time, art supplies always available, having at least 3 books available at all times for each age group, coats separated by at least 12 inches for sanitation, toothbrushes being in separate containers, counting out enough wipes ahead of time for a diaper change, being in sight AND sound, not allowing children to wait more than 3 minutes for a meal, singing songs on the way to the bathroom, outdoor time, indoor time, handwashing...whew! It's not that some of those things aren't important. But, a there are so many ways to provide art, music, language, and literacy, for instance. Having centers is great, but not necessary.

How can you really measure quality, when it's about the personal relationships you develop with the children and their families? That you get to know the children's personalities, what's important to them, how to respond to them as individuals and still honor who YOU are?

I have one child on state assistance. He's the oldest in the group, and once he moves on, I will also opt out.

Exactly!

I think more people should opt out so they will get the message loud and clear that if they don't ease up they'll need to find other options for state paid parents.

Laurel

[Laurel]

I will quit when (IF) it hits CA. I'm 60, have had a baby on my hip since I was 13. I went to college back in the early 70's but don't have a degree. I don't have the desire or energy to play their games.

I've started taking classes through our local R&R and they are a huge waste of time. I haven't learned anything yet. The class last week was held by a former provider who is now an accountant (EA) and she was super informative.

That is what I've always said too. If they get it here, I will quit rather than do it. Someone said that is their goal but why? Why does the state care if children are in centers or homes?

Laurel

[Annalee]

Exactly!

I think more people should opt out so they will get the message loud and clear that if they don't ease up they'll need to find other options for state paid parents.

Laurel

TN isn't allowed to opt-out due to it being TN state law for all daycares to be assessed annually. You can choose not to participate and have N/P placed on your report card BUT you still have to complete the assessment and have the score from assessment along with the other components' star rating which is still on the report card and on the state website so "what's the point?' of allowing us to choose N/P? I say it is "messed up" here!!!!

[Blackcat31]

That is what I've always said too. If they get it here, I will quit rather than do it. Someone said that is their goal but why? Why does the state care if children are in centers or homes?

Laurel

money.

federal and state money can be put into play in centers micro-managed (regulated) by the government.

There is no money to be made off of self-employed family child care providers that aren't micromanaged by the government.

[NoMoreJuice!]

What?

What states are these programs in? Hopefully at least your states have funding for subsidies for families that need them...Kansas is wiping out all social programs thanks to our recklessly idiotic governor. No medicaid, no subsidies, insane university tuition hikes, and now our state supreme court has to decide whether our public schools are being underfunded to the point that it's unconstitutional (lower courts have already decided this!).

Kansas ****s! But the stars thing sounds like a real pain! Here we just sign a contract with DCF and you're good to go. All you need is a state license.

[Annalee]

That is what I've always said too. If they get it here, I will quit rather than do it. Someone said that is their goal but why? Why does the state care if children are in centers or homes?

Laurel

Here, I don't think it matters between homes or centers. We all are assessed. Homes by the FCCERS-R. Centers by the ITTERS (infant/toddler), ECERS (preschool), or SACERS (school-agers). This started in 2002. I am scheduled to be assessed again mid-Feb. Dread it, dread it, dread it, and I generally do well, but it is SOOOOOO messed up. I enjoyed observations for CDA, ACCREDITATION and obtaining my Associates' Degree, but assessment makes me crazy, angry, frustrated, unhappy, sick.....should I go on????? :confused:

[Annalee]

Here we just sign a contract with DCF and you're good to go. All you need is a state license.

This was the good ole' days!

[My3cents]

Here, I don't think it matters between homes or centers. We all are assessed. Homes by the FCCERS-R. Centers by the ITTERS (infant/toddler), ECERS (preschool), or SACERS (school-agers). This started in 2002. I am scheduled to be assessed again mid-Feb. Dread it, dread it, dread it, and I generally do well, but it is SOOOOOO messed up. I enjoyed observations for CDA, ACCREDITATION and obtaining my Associates' Degree, but assessment makes me crazy, angry, frustrated, unhappy, sick.....should I go on????? :confused:

sounds like your being bullied into doing something you don't want to do. I say that is wrong. If you complete the requirements for a home daycare license that should be good enough. If you want to better your program then make it an option but not a requirement. I don't think it is bettering a program. Home daycare is just that- I could keep going on but it will just put me in a rotten mood. I don't find the anxiety that this puts on daycare providers funny one bit or beneficial. Micro managing at its best- Bottom line $-

[Annalee]

sounds like your being bullied into doing something you don't want to do. I say that is wrong. If you complete the requirements for a home daycare license that should be good enough. If you want to better your program then make it an option but not a requirement. I don't think it is bettering a program. Home daycare is just that- I could keep going on but it will just put me in a rotten mood. I don't find the anxiety that this puts on daycare providers funny one bit or beneficial. Micro managing at its best- Bottom line $-

I, with other providers, have expressed these same sentiments to the powers that be many times to NO avail. We are taught early that all children learn differently and to respect these learning differences. There are many, many ways to provide quality care. Allow providers to choose their OWN learning paths with their daycares, their education, etc. DO NOT DICTATE WHAT PROVIDERS CAN/CANNOT DO. I understand there has to be rules/regs, but the state has taken it to another level. I FIRMLY believe after fighting this for sooooo long that there is a deeper reason this is all coming into play. It is deeper than individual status, local status, state status or Federal Status. It is a National trend that terrifies me for my own children and those children entrusted to me daily. Needless to say, I am extremely passionate about the career path I have chosen. I do not want to start a political debate, but........ Just my opinions!

[melilley]

sounds like your being bullied into doing something you don't want to do. I say that is wrong. If you complete the requirements for a home daycare license that should be good enough. If you want to better your program then make it an option but not a requirement. I don't think it is bettering a program. Home daycare is just that- I could keep going on but it will just put me in a rotten mood. I don't find the anxiety that this puts on daycare providers funny one bit or beneficial. Micro managing at its best- Bottom line $-

Yep it's the money. They basically told us this right to our faces. Our poor ladies that work at our OYC office are being pressured into getting us home providers to participate so the state will keep their funding, so much that my consultant said that many times they cry at the office because of the pressure.
I have three stars and was going to go for a 4, but after a different thread and knowing what else I have to do to get there, I'm opting to stay at a 3. And you are right, it should be an option.. Here it is, but they said eventually it will be required to participate.

[melilley]

I didn't even read all the answers, but yes, yes, yes!

A couple weeks ago, I was sitting with my husband having coffee, and my teens were hanging out for a few minutes chatting. DCK #1 arrived (baby) I sat him on my lap and snuggled. 7am, mind you. DCK #2 came a couple minutes later (2yo), ran to the playroom, got a stuffed animal, then joined us on the couch. We sat there maybe 20 minutes, just chatting, then DH and the kids went on their way.

While I sat there, I thought, to me THIS is family childcare.

It's not washing your hands after touching the dog, it's not having a science center, a dramatic play area, a reading corner, a math area, a manipulative center, a block area, a gross motor space, a space for alone time, art supplies always available, having at least 3 books available at all times for each age group, coats separated by at least 12 inches for sanitation, toothbrushes being in separate containers, counting out enough wipes ahead of time for a diaper change, being in sight AND sound, not allowing children to wait more than 3 minutes for a meal, singing songs on the way to the bathroom, outdoor time, indoor time, handwashing...whew! It's not that some of those things aren't important. But, a there are so many ways to provide art, music, language, and literacy, for instance. Having centers is great, but not necessary.

How can you really measure quality, when it's about the personal relationships you develop with the children and their families? That you get to know the children's personalities, what's important to them, how to respond to them as individuals and still honor who YOU are?

[Josiegirl]

The STARS program is an option where I live. I chose to do it, quite frankly, for the money. First level, piece of cake. Then went on to the 2nd level, lots of paperwork and a bit more involved. I just received my 3rd STAR and am awaiting the check. I would rather not jump through their hoops to gain this extra monetary reward but it has undoubtedly come in handy. I will not go any further than the 3rd level. I highly doubt I will renew it either. It is a pain.

I didn't mind being assessed; what I don't like though, is having to be so involved with meetings, etc. I am an introvert to the nth degree and that kind of thing stresses me out way more than anything else.

I don't feel I'm any better at what I do than I was before. It certainly hasn't attracted any new clients. It has paid me more through my state-paid clients than I would receive without the STARS.

[Childminder]

I am nodding my head to just about every comment in this thread. I have 3 stars and will not attempt higher. To achieve 4 I would have to do home visits & 5 get a degree. I see the future and they wil make us do these things to stay licensed or stay open but hopefully I'll be long gone by then(I'm old).

One thing that I resent the most about the Stars program is the amount of hours I had to spend doing all of the busy/paper work to get that damn 3 stars. A "c" at best. I should have spent that time with the children in my care!