FAQs: New Legislation on Parent Aware One-Star Rating

No. This policy change does not impact child care programs that are already Rated. Programs that are already Rated do not have to take action and are not eligible for the signing bonus. 

Option 1: Participate in Parent Aware to work towards earning a Rating 

Child care programs that are in good standing with the state or their Tribe can participate in Parent Aware before July 1, 2026 to earn a Rating. This includes participating in the Full-Rating Pathway, Expedited Pathway, Accelerated Pathway, or a Building Quality Cohort. Learn more about these participation options here.

Qualifying providers may receive a $500 bonus for participating in Parent Aware. Bonuses are available to providers who have:

• Never been Rated before, AND
• Committed to being in a Building Quality or Full-Rating Cohort, AND
• Started the Rating process by meeting with a Quality Coach, OR
• Applied for and received an Expedited or Accelerated Rating. 

If a program would like to receive a signing bonus, they are encouraged to apply as soon as possible. Bonuses are available on a first come, first served basis, as funds allow. To learn more, contact your local Parent Aware Recruiter.

Option 2: Sign an Automatic One-Star Rating agreement

Starting March 12, 2024, child care programs in good standing with the state or their Tribe can sign an agreement committing to accept the Automatic One-Star Rating when it is available on July 1, 2026. By signing this commitment agreement, programs will be eligible to serve children receiving Early Learning Scholarships and will be featured on the Parent Aware website after their eligibility has been verified. Programs that choose to sign a commitment agreement for the Automatic One-Star Rating will not be eligible for a signing bonus.

Programs can access the agreement in their Organization Profile in Develop. For more information about this process, please review the guide called Guide to the Automatic One-Star Rating Commitment Agreement on the How do I page on the Develop website. To learn more, contact your local Parent Aware Recruiter.

Beginning December 11, 2023, child care programs are encouraged to sign up for Parent Aware as soon as possible, as funding is limited. Bonuses will be given out on a first come, first served basis. Bonuses will be paid after providers have signed a participation agreement to participate in a Full-Rating Cohort or Building Quality and started the Rating process by meeting with a Coach, or have earned a Rating through the Expedited or Accelerated Rating Pathway. Bonuses will be issued to providers after July 1, 2024 from Child Care Aware.

Programs that apply to  earn a Rating OR commit to the Automatic One-Star Rating will be able to accept Early Learning Scholarships.

Programs that earn a Rating before the One-Star Automatic Rating benefit from the services and supports that Parent Aware offers, such as free or reduced cost professional development opportunities, coaching , program featured on the top of parentaware.org search results for families, Building Quality Grants and/or Parent Aware Grants, and eligibility for a $500 bonus for some programs. This does not apply to programs that chose the Automatic One-Star Rating Agreement. 

Starting July 1, 2026, all licensed child care providers in good standing with the state or their Tribe will automatically receive a One-Star Parent Aware Rating (Minnesota Statutes, section 124D.142, subdivision 2), unless they are already Rated or choose to opt out. 

Licensed child care programs must be currently licensed and in good standing with a Tribal government or the Minnesota Department of Human Services. Child care centers and family child care programs licensed with the department must not have licensing sanctions, including conditional license; temporary immediate suspension; suspension; revocation; or a maltreatment determination

All licensed child care providers that are in good standing with the state or their Tribe will automatically receive a One-Star Parent Aware Rating on July 1, 2026, unless they are already Rated. As is the case now, child care providers have the option to earn a Rating before July 1, 2026 if they choose to. 

Parent Aware is Minnesota’s quality rating and improvement system. The state’s goal is to make sure families have access to quality, affordable child care and early education, and that children receive the best care possible. This policy change will support that goal by: 

• Aligning our licensing and quality rating and improvement systems; 
• Increasing options for families with Early Learning Scholarships; and 
• Preparing for the future development of a simplified statewide funding stream, which will streamline child care and early education financial assistance for families.