Parent Aware Redesign

1. Minimize the exclusion of children from Parent Aware-participating programs, especially for children experiencing disparities based on race, ethnicity, language, immigration status, dis/ability, gender, geography and income, by promoting culturally relevant and developmentally appropriate practices in Rated programs.

2. Remove barriers and increase support to promote successful provider participation in Parent Aware, particularly for communities that have not historically participated or remained in the program.

3. Increase access to early child care and education workforce support for early educators in Parent Aware-participating programs, especially for providers and educators who have experienced barriers related to their race, ethnicity, language, immigration status, dis/ability, gender and/or geography.

4. Intentionally and continuously improve the relevancy of Parent Aware program standards, policies, practices and programming, particularly centering the values and needs of families, educators and providers who have experienced barriers related to their race, ethnicity, language, immigration status, dis/ability, gender, geography and/or income.

5. Promote safe and inclusive early care and learning environments for children, families and educators by embedding concepts of racial equity, cultural agility and anti-bias into required professional development offerings and support for Parent Aware-participating programs.

1. *Parent Aware Advisory Committee 
   As part of the Parent Aware Redesign, the department has launched a new Parent Aware Advisory Committee. The committee advises the department and Child Care Aware of Minnesota on decisions to help shape and improve Parent Aware. The committee is made up of parents, partners and community members, providers and early educators from licensed child care, Head Start and prekindergarten programs along with state staff. The committee was formed in summer 2023.
    
2. *Parent Aware Evaluation 

   As part of the Parent Aware Redesign, the department is evaluating how well Parent Aware supports positive outcomes for Minnesota’s children, families and the early care and education workforce. This evaluation is required by law (MN Statutes 124D.142) and began March 2022 and ended September 2024. It focused on outcomes for children, quality of programs, parents’ experiences, and child care providers' ability to serve children. Learn more about the evaluation here.

3. Parent Aware forms and Develop data system

   As part of the Parent Aware Redesign, the department is reviewing and revamping Parent Aware forms and updating the Develop data system. The department will gather feedback from an advisory team, child care and early education programs, Child Care Aware staff and others to understand the challenges and barriers around forms and Develop. This work will help improve the experience of child care and early education programs’ participation in Parent Aware.

4. *Parent Aware Quality Coaching and Professional Development Advising 

   As part of the Parent Aware Redesign, the department is assessing the current landscape of Quality Coaches and Professional Development Advisors who support child care providers participating in Parent Aware. The assessment, which will include deep engagement, will help create new strategies for diversifying the pool of Quality Coaches and Professional Development Advisors and ensure current Quality Coaches and Professional Development Advisors have cultural humility.

5. Racial bias and discrimination incident guidelines for the Child Care Aware System

   As part of the Parent Aware Redesign, the department is creating guidelines for responding to racial bias and discrimination incidents experienced by staff of color in the Child Care Aware system. A workgroup will research and create guidelines for Minnesota. Interim guidelines will be shared before a final guide is released to the Parent Aware system.

6. *Rating Pathways and Cohorts 

   As part of the Parent Aware Redesign, the department is exploring alternative Rating Pathways to encourage broader participation in Parent Aware. The department will engage child care providers and early educators to better understand their needs and create, in partnership, more flexible pathways to become Parent Aware Rated. This work will have a special focus on family child care providers and the experiences of providers who speak diverse languages.

7. Reductions of suspensions and expulsions of young children in Parent Aware Rated programs

   As part of the Parent Aware Redesign, the department is creating strategies to reduce the number of children from birth to age five that are suspended or expelled from Rated child care and early education programs. The project will work collaboratively with partners and other state agencies, and will focus on reducing disparities based on race, income and ethnicity.

8. *Revising the Standards and Indicators 

   Parent Aware Standards and Indicators are the quality measures used to award Star Ratings. As part of the Parent Aware Redesign, the department is updating the Standards and Indicators, with next steps shared in 2025. The process will review and update the Standards and Indicators to reflect best practices, ensure they promote child well-being, are culturally and linguistically affirming, and are meaningful for programs that participate.

   For more information, go to the Standards and Indicators page. 

Recent publications 

• Parent Aware Racial Equity Implementation: Summary of 2022-2023 Accomplishments
• Parent Aware Racial Equity Implementation: Evaluation Report (Portage Partners Consulting, Oct. 2023)
• Evaluation of Parent Aware: Minnesota’s Voluntary Child Care and Early Learning Program Quality Rating and Improvement System (Child Trends, Sept. 2024)
• Parent Aware Standards and Indicators 2023 Engagement Summary (Dec. 2023)
• Parent Aware Standards and Indicators 2024 Engagement Summary (Nov. 2024)
• Parent Aware Evaluation and One-Star Ratings Legislative Report (Dec. 2024) 

Foundational publications 

• Parent Aware Racial Equity Action Plan (Feb. 2022)
• Parent Aware Equity Engagement Report (March 2022)
• Parent Aware Equity Report (March 2022)