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Parent Aware Redesign: Standards and Indicators

Intro

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 to reflect best practices, ensure they promote child well-being, are culturally and linguistically affirming, and are meaningful for programs that participate.

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About Parent Aware, Ratings and Standards and Indicators 

Parent Aware is Minnesota’s voluntary Quality Rating and Improvement System (QRIS). Child care programs that participate in Parent Aware volunteer for extra training, coaching and professional development to go above and beyond basic health and safety licensing requirements. Programs can receive a One- to Four-Star Rating based on research-based best practices, called Standards and Indicators. 

Parent Aware began as a pilot in 2007. Since then, the Standards and Indicators have been updated twice to help ensure children receive the best care:

  • In 2012, the Minnesota Legislature directed the state to use the pilot evaluation results to update the Standards and Indicators.
  • In 2015, Parent Aware became available statewide. A second evaluation of the program was completed in February 2016. A process to update the Standards and Indicators was conducted alongside the evaluation, with the final set of updates released in October 2016 with implementation beginning in July 2017.
  • This will be the third update to the Standards and Indicators.

Project information

Revising the Standards and Indicators is currently underway. Join us as a Parent Aware Redesign Ambassador to receive email updates on the Parent Aware Redesign work. You can also email your questions to dcyf.child.care@state.mn.us.