Parent Aware Redesign

Parent Aware is Minnesota’s quality rating and improvement system for child care and early education programs. In 2021, the Minnesota Department of Human Services engaged in efforts to better understand and address inequities within Parent Aware. As part of this effort, the department collaborated with Parent Aware partners through the Parent Aware Racial Equity Action Plan workgroup and engaged with hundreds of child care programs across the state to identify and report on barriers and to create a plan for improvement.

The Department of Human Services (DHS) is now moving into the next phase of this work: gathering additional data and community input and implementing recommendations through the Parent Aware Redesign. This multi-year effort includes multiple projects and centers best practices and racial, cultural, linguistic, ability and geographic equity.

As we continue this work, there will be many opportunities for partners, child care providers and families to provide feedback. We are assembling a group of ambassadors to help advise and share information on the Parent Aware Redesign. Learn more and sign up for email updates on this work. You can also email questions to dhs.child.care@state.mn.us.

Projects

The Parent Aware Redesign includes several projects. Projects with an * were identified by partners as priority racial equity projects and include those that were recommended in the Parent Aware Racial Equity Action Plan. They include:

Parent Aware Advisory Committee *

As part of the Parent Aware Redesign, the department is launching a new Parent Aware Advisory Committee. The committee will advise 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 will be formed in summer 2023.
Parent Aware Evaluation *

As part of the Parent Aware Redesign, the department is evaluating how well Parent Aware supports positive outcomes for children, families and the early care and education workforce. This evaluation is required by law and will take place between March 2022 and July 2024. It will focus on outcomes for children, quality of programs, parents experiences, and child care providers' ability to serve children. Learn more about the evaluation here.
Parent Aware forms and Develop data system

As part of the Parent Aware Redesign, the department is reviewing and revamping Parent Aware Forms and 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 child care and early education program participation in Parent Aware.
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.
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.
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.
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 expulsed 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.
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 Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) is updating the Standards and Indicators, with the new changes to be announced 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.