STARS Grants & Awards

Keystone STARS Grants and Awards

Keystone STARS is an initiative of the Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) to improve, support, and recognize the continuous quality improvement (CQI) efforts of Pennsylvania’s early learning and school-age programs.  Providing financial supports to providers serving children who are vulnerable and at risk is one strategy implemented by OCDEL to promote continuous quality improvement.

What types of grants are available to child care providers in the Keystone STARS Program?

STAR 1 and STAR 2 providers may be eligible for the Rising STARS Support Grant if they meet the following criteria:

The following types of providers may be eligible for a Rising STARS Support Grants:

• All current Keystone STAR 1 child care certified early care providers (including SACC only providers) actively working on a Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) plan, which includes achieving a STAR 2 in a reasonable amount of time.
• Current STAR 2 providers (including SACC only providers) who received the Rising STARS Support Grant and successfully moved from STAR 1 to STAR 2
• STAR 2 providers (including SACC only providers) who have received the maximum amount of Merit Awards (three) but who now are positioned to move to a STAR 3 or 4.

The following types of providers may be eligible for Merit and/or ERA Award:

• Family providers at a STAR 2, 3, or 4 may be eligible for the MERA Award.
• STAR 2 Center/Group providers may be eligible for the MERA Award (3 time maximum for Merit)
• STAR 3 & 4 Center/Group providers may be eligible for the ERA Award

How do I obtain more information regarding the Support or MERA Grants?

Contact your Quality Coach to determine your eligibility

Additional Grant and Award Programs

Three other types of grants became available in 2014-2015 to early learning programs that are not eligible for other types of STARS financial awards and/or for the expansion of regulated childcare programs in targeted high risk or moderate high risk, rural counties as a result of Race to the Top funding.

Enrollment and Movement Incentives – for programs not eligible for the Rising STARS Support Grant or the MERA Grant due to the program not meeting the 10% childcare subsidy eligibility and/or the program not being a DHS regulated childcare program.

Child Care Capacity Incentive – for programs that are non-regulated wanting to become DHS regulated or for current regulated programs wanting to open a new facility in the targeted rural counties.

How do I obtain more information regarding the Special Initiative Awards?

Contact Leah Tressler, Race to the Top Manager at 610-763-6264 or ltressler@cscinc.org