YoungStar For Providers

Kindergarten teacher and children

YoungStar is designed to help Wisconsin’s child care providers be as successful as possible. Our 5 Star rating system gives providers like you an objective measure of program quality. It rewards excellence and offers programs a clear and continuous path to improvement.

YoungStar offers training programs, technical assistance, micro-grants, and other resources to help providers achieve real progress.

The education and nurturing care you provide to children and families has a huge impact on their lives. Maintaining a safe, healthy place for children to learn and grow isn’t easy; it takes hard work and dedication. We're here to help every step of the way.

The brochure, "Make Your Program Shine," offers more information about YoungStar: English -- Spanish

YoungStar is Making Changes for 2021/2022 (NEW)

Are you interested in learning more about the changes taking place in YoungStar? Visit the following link for the latest information: https://dcf.wisconsin.gov/youngstar/providers/rating-criteria

Tips for Achieving Your Highest Possible Rating

The following tips can help you achieve the highest possible YoungStar rating, and give Wisconsin’s children the best possible start.

Continually Improve

YoungStar-rated child care programs go through a 40-point evaluation process that is specific to each program's size and structure. The total number of points a program earns determines how many stars it receives. Since a program's rating is renewed every other year, programs have the ability to earn more stars as they continually improve the quality of care they provide.

YoungStar rates a provider around four key categories:

The Providers' Education & Training
The Learning Environment & Curriculum
The Program's Business & Professional Practices
The Child's Health & Well-Being

Learn more about the YoungStar evaluation criteria by clicking HERE

Take a Training

Quality is not an end point, but an ongoing journey. With this in mind, YoungStar offers a variety of low-cost or free trainings around a variety of pertinent topics so you can be learning something new or refreshing your skills on a regular basis.

Visit the YoungStar Training page to locate a training that works for your schedule and budget.

Build Your Skills

Learning a new skill or practice has never been easier, especially with the help of a YoungStar Technical Consultant (TC). TC's can assist you in setting functional goals, measuring progress and improving your program's overall quality. The YoungStar program wants to help you add new skills and knowledge to your ever expanding toolbox.

Explore our Resources for Providers page for ideas.

Maintain Your Registry Program Profile

It's important that programs update and maintain their YoungStar-required Registry Program Profile. The information you enter is automatically used to determine your YoungStar rating and corresponding YoungStar Adjustment. By signing a YoungStar Contract, programs agree to keep their Program Profiles accurate and up-to-date.

To learn more, read the YoungStar Policy on Maintaining Your Registry Program Profile.

Earn Accreditation

Accreditation is an alternative way to a achieve a higher YoungStar rating. YoungStar recognizes accreditations from a variety of well-respected organizations, including the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), the City of Madison, Satellite Family Child Care Accreditation, Head Start Performance Standards, Early Learning Leaders, the National Association for Family Child Care (NAFCC), the Council on Accreditation, and others.

To learn more about accreditation, take a look at the YoungStar Accreditation Policy.

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