Ohio department of education sutq guidance document

Step Up To Quality

• Overview
• Program Standards,
  Rules and Forms
• Guidance Documents and
  Implementation Resources
• Professional Development
  and Education
• OCLQS
• Early Learning Assessment
• Marketing Materials
• SUTQ PFCC Payment Estimator
• SUTQ Resources and
  Contact Information

Program Standards,
Rules and Forms

Guidance Documents and
Implementation Resources

Professional Development
and Education

Early Learning Assessment

SUTQ PFCC Payment Estimator

SUTQ Resources and
Contact Information

Guidance Documents and Implementation Resources

The Step Up To Quality Guide is intended to be used by all programs that participate in SUTQ, and is designed for child care centers and preschool programs and family child care homes working to achieve and maintain star ratings. It includes explanations, key terms, tips for meeting the standards and frequently asked questions.

Step Up To Quality Ratings Progressions Charts

Quick reference charts show the SUTQ program standards for each level of a star-rated program.

Annual Report Requirement Summary

Explains annual report requirements for a three, four or five-star rating.

The following are additional resources to assist programs with the implementation of the Program Standards:

Resource Guides

Ohio Classroom Observation Tool

The Ohio Classroom Observation Tool (OCOT) has been developed to measure the quality of both the classroom environment and staff/child interactions. The tool contains seven elements: four assessing environment and three assessing interaction.

The OCOT will be used to observe a sample of classrooms during the on-site verification visit for programs seeking a three- to five-star rating. Programs must obtain a 'met' in order to meet the requirements of the program standard. The tool will be made available for programs who wish to utilize it as part of their ongoing continuous improvement process.

Ohio's Early Learning and Development Standards

On October 9 2012, the State Board of Education adopted Ohio's new Birth - Kindergarten Entry Early Learning and Development Standards in all domains of school readiness to reflect the comprehensive development of children beginning at birth through entry into kindergarten. The standards were expanded as part of a collaborative effort of state agencies serving young children including Ohio Department of Education, Ohio Department of Job and Family Services, Ohio Department of Health, Ohio Department of Mental Health & Addiction Services, Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities, and the Governor's Office of Health Transformation. The state agencies worked with national experts and writing teams made up of Ohio-based content experts and stakeholders to revise and expand the standards in the following domains.

These new standards describe key concepts and skills that young children develop during the birth-to- five-year period. Their purpose is to support the development and well-being of young children and to foster their learning. The standards promote the understanding of early learning and development, provide a comprehensive and coherent set of expectations for children's development and learning, and guide the design and implementation of curriculum, assessment and instructional practices with young children.

ODE: Please contact [email protected] or 614-752-1151