For Parents
Did You Know?
At birth, only 33% of a baby’s brain is developed, but by age five, that percentage increases to 90%!
The most rapid period of brain development for children is from birth to age 5.
Why is this important?
This time frame sets the foundation for ALL life-long learning.
Think of placing your hand in wet concrete. Your hand easily presses into the surface and makes an imprint. This represents the brain from birth through age 5. As the concrete dries, it becomes much harder to make an impression. Imprints are not impossible, but certainly require more work. This represents the brain after age 5.
One of the most important decisions parents make is choosing an early care and education program to support the out-of-home needs of their little ones. This chosen environment must meet the child’s basic needs and cultivate rich learning experiences that support rapid brain development during these critical early years.
Alabama Quality STARS can help you choose!
Alabama Quality STARS is a quality rating and improvement system (QRIS) that awards STAR ratings to early childhood care and education programs based on high-quality standards and teacher-child interactions. Being STAR-rated is not like common star ratings on Google or Amazon. Programs that have an advanced STAR rating, ranging from 2-STAR to 5-STAR, are going beyond state Licensing Performance Standards to provide higher-quality early learning environments for children. In Alabama’s childcare system, a provider with a 1-STAR rating meets the DHR Performance Standards for licensing, and providers with higher ratings are building even more quality into their programs. All STAR ratings are a reflection of quality!
STAR Rating Descriptions
 | STAR 1 | The program has met and maintained all licensing standards through the Alabama Department of Human Resources |
 | STAR 2 | Programs have exceeded the licensing standards and are going above and beyond to continue to build foundational quality*. They look to highlight what their program does well and challenge themselves to do more. |
 | STAR 3 | Programs have built upon foundational quality and continue to strengthen and advance it with more focus on quality teacher-child interactions* |
 | STAR 4 | Programs have empowered their teams to continue to strengthen teacher-child interactions and implement advanced program-wide quality initiatives. |
 | STAR 5 | Programs have continued to strengthen foundational quality through internal mentorship and have consistently high levels of program-wide, quality teacher-child interactions, as well as solid business practices. |
Foundational Quality: Programs are assessed through a Best Practice Rubric which has been developed from research and publications focused on quality in early childcare and feedback from stakeholders. This includes evaluating a program’s curriculum, instructional, screening, and assessment practices, family engagement, professional credentials, learning environment, and overall program design
Quality Interactions: Programs are also assessed using the Classroom Assessment Scoring System (CLASS) which is focused on teacher-child interactions that promote positive outcomes for children across age levels. This assessment includes evaluating how teachers within the childcare program meet the level of support, organization, sensitivity, warmth, excitement, and engagement needed for children to develop age-appropriate skills and behaviors.
What does it mean if my program is not rated or has a low rating?
- All licensed programs in good standing with DHR are eligible to apply. Programs that cannot be licensed (military, public schools, Alabama Community College System, University, Tribal, etc.) are also eligible.
- Some childcare programs may choose not to participate
- Being STAR-Rated is optional for licensed programs.
Find out more about childcare and each licensed childcare in Alabama using DHR’s Childcare Locator