Step Up To Quality – Ohio’s Child Care Quality Rating System

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Information for Providers

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Step Up To Quality (SUTQ) is a five-star quality rating and improvement system administered by the Ohio Department of Education and the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services. SUTQ recognizes and promotes learning and development programs that meet quality program standards that exceed licensing health and safety regulations. The program standards are based on national research identifying standards which lead to improved outcomes for children.

For more information regarding SUTQ including helpful documents and resources, please visit the Bold Beginning website at www.boldbeginning.ohio.gov.

The following information is for providers. If you're looking for information about how SUTQ makes it easy to find a great program for your child, please see the SUTQ Information for Families.

Step Up To Quality Information for Family Child Care Providers

April 2022 updates to SUTQ

SUTQ Payment Estimator Tool

Request for Review

Program Standards and Requirements
Serious and Moderate Risk Non-Compliances

Step Up To Quality: A Guide for Child Care Providers

State Purchased Curriculum

Step Up To Quality Requirement Summaries

Step Up To Quality Progression Charts

Licensing and SUTQ Specialists

Accrediting Bodies for SUTQ and Publicly Funded Child Care

Early Childhood Program Transition Best Practices

Rated programs are able to register for a renewal or an increase to their rating and unrated programs are able to register for an initial rating. All SUTQ registrations must be completed and submitted using the the Ohio Child Licensing and Quality System (OCLQS). OCLQS can be accessed by clicking the button below.

Individuals seeking to be approved trainers and training approvals must be recognized as Ohio Approved. Ohio Child Care Resource and Referral Association (OCCRRA) coordinates the Ohio Approval process for professional development offerings and instructors. Visit your registry profile to apply. Questions pertaining to the approval process should contact approval@occrra.org.

OCCRRA SUTQ Coordinators

The Early Learning Assessment (ELA) is the formative assessment component of Ohio's comprehensive early childhood assessment system called Ready For Kindergarten. For information regarding the ELA, please visit http://education.ohio.gov/Topics/Early-Learning/Guidance-About-Kindergarten/Early-Learning-Assessment. The information includes implementation timelines, required and optional users, professional development requirements, technology updates and family resources.