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OXFORD — Miami University's Child Development Center, operated by Mini University, is the first to receive a star rating from Ohio's Step Up to Quality Award from the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services. The center received a two-star rating on a scale of three stars.

According to Kathleen Bryan, professional development counselor at 4C for Children—the organization that rated Miami's center—centers are required to have licenses from the state but the award shows that they are above the state licensing level. Centers have the opportunity to contact the organization to work toward earning the star rating and do not need to pay for the rating since 4C is state funded.

Centers can earn one, two or three stars based on five different benchmarks. Benchmarks include lower ratios between children and staff, staff education and qualifications, specialized training, administrative practices and early learning for children. As the star ratings increase, the harder the qualifications are to meet for each benchmark, according to Bryan.

Bryan said star ratings can lead to higher enrollment and put centers on the map. "A lot of directors are looking at this as a marketing tool and looking at programs and say, 'we know we are just as good as other ones,'" Bryan said. "Parents need to start asking the questions of where is the highest quality program in our area."

Miami's center contacted 4C in November 2007 and received the two-star rating in February 2008.

"I am extremely proud of my staff and their hard work and earning the recognition from the state," said Kellie Kochensparger, director at Miami's center. "It takes a lot of team work to meet the benchmarks and really commit the vision of everyone working to improve the quality."

Kochensparger said Miami's center is a continuous improvement agency and will work toward a three-star rating in the future. In addition, she said Miami's center has seen an increased level of parents contacting the center, names on the waiting list and parents taking tours since receiving the rating.

In addition to the rating, the center received a $16,000 annual award based upon the number of publicly funded children at the center and subsidy of the star rating. The center will continue to receive the funding as long as it maintains the two-star rating.

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