News, updates and engagements: Parent Aware

Last updated on August 23, 2024

Starting July 1, 2026, all licensed child care providers in good standing with the state or their Tribe will automatically receive a One-Star Parent Aware Rating (Minnesota Statutes, section 124D.142, subdivision 2), unless they are already Rated or choose to opt out. The state’s goal for these activities is to make sure families have access to quality, affordable child care, and that children receive the best care possible.

Licensed child care programs that have not earned a Parent Aware Rating can commit to the Automatic One-Star Rating when it is available starting July 1, 2026. After their eligibility has been verified, programs that commit to the Automatic One-Star Rating will be able to accept Early Learning Scholarships. Families eligible to receive an Early Learning Scholarship must use their scholarship in a Rated program or a program that has agreed to participate. Programs that choose to sign a commitment agreement for the Automatic One-Star Rating will not be eligible for a signing bonus.

Programs can access the commitment agreement in their Organization Profile in Develop. For more information about this process, please review the guide called Guide to the Automatic One-Star Rating Commitment Agreement on the How do I page on the Develop website. To learn more, contact your local Parent Aware Recruiter.

This new opportunity to join Parent Aware is happening to increase access to Early Learning Scholarships, coinciding with an increase in Early Learning Scholarships funding in early 2024. Learn more about Early Learning Scholarships here.

Last updated on July 19, 2024

We are happy to share that two additional Knowledge and Competency Framework (KCF) Content Areas are approved to meet the training requirements for Parent Aware Ratings. Individuals can use training hours completed within the past five years according to the Parent Aware Pathway Five-Year look back date policy. As of July 1, 2024, individuals are allowed to use the following: 

• KCF IX Trauma Informed Care and Practice in lieu of or in addition to KCF IIC Social and Emotional Development and,
• KCF X Working with Multilingual Children and Families in lieu of or in addition to KCF III Relationships with Families.

This change in policy is in response to recommendations made in the Parent Aware Racial Equity Action Plan. It is a step towards providing more flexible and relevant training options for educators working with children and families from diverse communities. Professional Development Advisors (PDAs) may have completed training reviews before this announcement. It is an option, but not a required action to revisit a completed training review with your PDA. Programs and individuals should connect with their PDA with questions and to discuss changes to their training plan for the July 2024 Full Rating Cohort, Accelerated, or Expedited Pathway Rating if they want to evaluate adding existing hours from the new areas to their training plan. 

We are excited to share that Parent Aware recently remodeled its website to improve usability for users. While the website has a new look and feel, much of the content remains the same but is easier to navigate. Check out the updated website.