Serving Region 3: Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Indiana & Lawrence Counties
WHat Is KEYSTONE STARS?
What is Keystone STARS?
Keystone STARS (Standards, Training/Professional Development, Assistance, Resources, and Supports) is Pennsylvania’s Quality Rating and Improvement System (QRIS). A QRIS is a continuous quality improvement systemic approach to assess, improve, and communicate the level of quality in early and school-age care and education programs. Keystone STARS is a program of Pennsylvania’s Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL).
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Guiding Principles
Keystone STARS is a responsive system to improve, support, and recognize the continuous quality improvement efforts of early learning programs in Pennsylvania. The Keystone STARS system is guided by three core principles:
- A whole-child approach to education is essential to meeting the holistic and individual needs of each and every child and family.
- Knowledgeable and responsive early care and education professionals are essential to the development of children and the support of families.
- Building and sustaining ongoing positive relationships among children, families, early care and education professionals and community stakeholders is essential for the growth and development of every child.
We believe inclusion, diversity, equity and respect are foundational values embedded in these principles.
Primary Goals
Keystone STARS has four primary goals:
- To improve the quality of early care and education;
- To support early care and education providers in meeting their quality improvement goals;
- To recognize programs for continuous quality improvement and meeting higher quality standards; and
- To provide families a way to choose a quality early care and education program.
OCDEL’s Keystone STARS Program supports all early care and education programs to improve program quality. We encourage programs to think about the Keystone STARS Performance Standards as a tool to support continuous quality improvement (CQI) that impacts services to the children and families in your care.
Keystone STARS – Improving the quality through:
Standards
Training/Professional Development
Assistance,
Resources and
Support
For more information, please visit The Pennsylvania Key.
Contact Us About STARS
Keystone STARS inquiries from certified Child Care Providers can be directed to:
Kathy Hanley - Stars Quality Manager ELRC Region 3
Phone: (412) 292-5029
Great news! Rapid Response Team (RRT) services extended
OCDEL has awarded Early Learning Connections a one-year extension to continue providing Rapid Response Team (RRT) services to licensed child care providers in Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Indiana and Lawerence Counties. Jenn Lohr will remain the RRT Coordinator. Referrals will continue to be accepted via email at RRTRegion3@earlylearningconnections.org or 724-287-2761 ext. 316 through December 2026.