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Ohio Laws and Rules
Chapter 5101:2-17 Step up to quality (SUTQ) rating system
5101:2-17-01
Application and eligibility for step up to quality (SUTQ).
(A) A child care program licensed by the Ohio department of job and family services (ODJFS) may apply to participate in step up to quality (SUTQ), a voluntary quality rating system.
(B) Eligibility requirements to become star rated include:
(1) The program has not received a letter of intent to revoke a license from ODJFS within the forty-eight months prior to application.
(2) The program had no serious risk noncompliances, as outlined in appendix A to this rule, at the last licensing inspection, as a result of a substantiated complaint, or during a verification visit.
(3) The program meets all the benchmark indicators for the star rating it applied for as listed in appendix B to this rule.
(4) The program administrators, lead and assistant teachers have completed a professional registry profile online at www.ohpdnetwork.org.
(C) Any program with serious risk noncompliances may apply for a star rating after the next regular licensing inspection with no serious risk noncompliances.
(D) A program shall complete and submit an online application located at www.stepuptoquality.org:
(1) To participate in SUTQ.
(2) To request a change in a star rating.
(3) To renew a star rating.
(E) After receiving notification of eligibility status from ODJFS programs shall comply with an unannounced verification visit as required by rule 5101:2-17-02 of the Administrative Code.
(F) A star rated program shall maintain its rating for a period of one year as long as it has not had any serious risk noncompliances. A star rated program may receive a warning regarding its star rating or notification that its rating has been suspended or removed as a result of a serious risk noncompliance.
(G) Any financial incentive issued to a star rated program shall be made by an electronic funds transfer (EFT).
(H) A star rated program whose star rating has been removed shall not display, disseminate or utilize any SUTQ marketing materials provided by ODJFS.
Effective:
11/10/2011
R.C.
119.032 review dates:
07/01/2014
Promulgated
Under: 119.03
Statutory
Authority:
5104.30
Rule
Amplifies:
5104.30
Prior
Effective Dates: 7/1/2009, 8/1/2010
5101:2-17-02
Step up to quality (SUTQ) verification visits.
(A) An eligible child care center (program) shall comply with an unannounced verification visit. The program shall demonstrate compliance with all requirements of the benchmark indicators of the requested star rating as described in rule 5101:2-17-01 of the Administrative Code.
(1) If the program meets the benchmark indicators of the requested star rating, the star rating will be awarded for a period of one year.
(2) If the program does not meet the benchmark indicators of the requested star rating, the star rating will not be awarded. A lesser star rating may be awarded if the program meets the benchmarks of that star rating.
(B) If a star rating is not awarded, a program may reapply for a star rating six months after the date of the verification visit.
(C) If any of the following occur, the star rated program shall notify the Ohio department of job and family services (ODJFS) in writing within ten business days.
(1) Change of program location.
(2) Change of program owner.
(3) Change of program administrator.
(4) Change of lead teacher if it impacts meeting the benchmark indicator.
(5) Change of an assistant teacher for a step three rated program.
(D) After notifying ODJFS of one of the changes in paragraph (C) of this rule, the program shall comply with an unannounced verification visit.
(1) If the program demonstrates continued compliance with the benchmark indicators, the star rating is maintained.
(2) If the program does not demonstrate continued compliance with the benchmark indicators, the star rating may be removed or a lesser star rating may be awarded.
Effective: 07/01/2009
R.C.
119.032 review dates: 07/01/2014
Promulgated Under:
119.03
Statutory
Authority:
5104.30
Rule
Amplifies:
5104.30
5101:2-17-03
Step up to quality (SUTQ) appeals.
(A) Eligible child care programs may appeal either of the following:
(1) Outcome of the star rating verification visit.
(2) Removal of a star rating.
(B) Programs shall complete and submit the JFS 01563 "Appeal Request for Step Up To Quality" (4/2009) within thirty calendar days of notification of the star rating verification visit results or the star rating removal to the Ohio department of job and family services (ODJFS), bureau of child care and development (BCCD).
(C) A program shall receive a written decision of the appeal within thirty calendar days from the day it was received by BCCD.
Effective: 07/01/2009
R.C.
119.032 review dates: 07/01/2014
Promulgated Under:
119.03
Statutory
Authority:
5104.30
Rule
Amplifies:
5104.30