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Programs Announcements

Announcements

News and updates about Parent Aware, Minnesota’s Quality Rating and Improvement System.

Parent Aware Standards and Indicators are the quality measures used to award Star Ratings. The Minnesota Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) explored changes to the Standards and Indicators.

The new set of Standards and Indicators will begin July 1, 2026. Until then, Parent Aware will continue to use the current Standards and Indicators.

What are the Parent Aware Standards and Indicators?

  • Standards – key features that reflect best practices. They are based on years of research that has shown these practices make a positive difference for children.
  • Indicators – specific activities we can observe or measure during the Rating process to determine whether a Standard has been met.

What changes are included in the Standards and Indicators update?

  • Providing a One-Star Rating for licensed programs, unless they opt out.
  • Change in definition of “in good standing” with Licensing.
  • Incorporating CLASS coaching into the Parent Aware Standards and Indicators
  • Recognizing early educators with AA degrees with points earned toward a Three or Four-Star Rating
  • Incorporating new KCF areas into the training requirements

Effective July 1, 2026, all licensed child care providers that are in good standing with the state or their Tribe will receive a One-Star Parent Aware Rating unless they are already Rated or choose to opt out (Minnesota Statutes, section 142D.13, subdivision 2).

This change will align Minnesota’s quality rating and licensing standards, simplify Parent Aware participation, and increase access to Early Learning Scholarships for families and providers.

This only impacts programs that are not Parent Aware Rated and programs that have a current One-Star Rating. If your program has a Two-Star Rating or higher, there is nothing you need to do.

What do providers need to do?

This change only impacts programs that are not Parent Aware Rated and programs that currently hold a One-Star Rating.

For programs that are not Parent Aware Rated, there are three options:

  1. Sign up now: Programs in good standing with the state or their Tribe can now sign an agreement to accept a One-Star Rating. By doing this, programs can participate in Early Learning Scholarships and will be featured on the Parent Aware website now. These programs will receive their One-Star Rating on July 1, 2026, when the change happens. If you want to sign the agreement now, you can access the agreement in your Organization Profile in Develop. For more information about this process, please review the Develop Guide to the Automatic One-Star Rating Commitment Agreement.
  2. Earn a higher Rating: Programs can apply for and earn a higher Star Rating. If you want a higher Rating, and to be eligible for more benefits, you can contact your local Parent Aware Recruiter for more information.
  3. Opt out: Licensed providers will be able to opt out of receiving the One-Star Rating. The process for receiving or opting out of the One-Star Rating effective July 1, 2026, is in development. More information is coming.

For providers that have a current One-Star Rating, there are three options:

  1. Maintain a One-Star Rating: Providers with a One-Star Rating will not be required to submit an application or Quality Documentation Portfolio for a One-Star Rating after July 1, 2026. To maintain a One-Star Rating, you do not have to do anything.
  2. Earn a higher Rating: Providers can apply for and earn a higher Star Rating. The current Indicators for the One-Star Rating will be incorporated into the rating process for the Two-Star Rating. An updated Quality Documentation Portfolio will be available soon. If you want a higher Rating, and to be eligible for more benefits, you can contact your local Parent Aware Recruiter for more information.
  3. Opt out: If you no longer want to participate in Parent Aware, you can opt out of receiving the One-Star Rating at any time. The process for receiving or opting out of the One-Star Rating effective July 1, 2026, is in development. More information is coming.

Change in definition of “in good standing” with Licensing

Licensed child care programs will continue to be required to be in good standing with Licensing. The definition of in good standing with Licensing will change to be any program that does not have one of the following Licensing statuses:

  • Conditional
  • Temporary Immediate Suspension
  • Suspension
  • Revocation
  • Decertification

Or is not:

  • Subject to a finding of fraud
  • Prohibited from receiving public funds
  • Subject of suspended, denied, or terminated payments

Programs with any of these statuses will be excluded from participation in Parent Aware regardless of whether the action is under appeal.

Incorporating CLASS Coaching into the Rating Process, change to Indicator T2.3

Preschool and preschool/toddler classrooms in licensed child care centers using the Full-Rating Pathway to earn Three- or Four-Star Ratings will continue to be required to receive a CLASS observation. Programs will be recognized for working with a coach to improve CLASS scores. This will be phased in starting July 1, 2026, and will go into effect July 1, 2028. Lead teachers with between 1 and 5 hours of CLASS coaching in the past two years will help their programs earn 5 points, and lead teachers with more than 5 hours of CLASS coaching in the past two years will help their programs earn 10 points. Previously, programs did not receive points for receiving CLASS coaching.

Recognizing Educators with AA Degrees, change to Indicator P2.3b.

Early educators with AA degrees who work in licensed child care centers or family child care programs using the Full-Rating Pathway to earn Three- or Four-Star Ratings will be able to help their programs earn points for indicator P2.3b – Highly Qualified. Previously only early educators with a BA degree or higher were able to receive points for Indicator P2.3b.

Increasing flexibility for training that counts, including training in the new Knowledge and Competency Framework Content Areas.

All lead early educators in Parent Aware Rated programs will continue to be required to meet Star Level training requirements, with 18 hrs. required for Two Stars, and 50 hrs. of training required for Three and Four Stars of training, within the past five years.

Training required related to KCF Content Area II: Developmentally Appropriate Learning Experiences required for Three and Four Stars can be taken in any sub-area. This expands the sub-areas that count so that training in the new sub-area, II.F Cultural Responsibility and Practice, will count.

Training required related to KCF Content Area IV: Assessment, Evaluation, and Individualization will be expanded so that training in the sub-areas C, Assessing and Using Information to Enhance and Maintain Program Quality, and D, Cultural Responsibility and Practice, will count.

How can providers learn more or get help?

You can stay up to date on Parent Aware changes by visiting the News, Updates, and Engagements webpage for Parent Aware on the DCYF website. If you have questions, contact your local Parent Aware Recruiter. Thank you for all you do for Minnesota’s children and families.

Prior to May 2025, NAEYC only offered one tier of accreditation. NAEYC now offers three tiers: recognition, accreditation, and accreditation plus. Moving forward, NAEYC-accredited programs will need to choose which accreditation tier they wish to pursue.


Effective July 1, 2025, programs that choose the accreditation and the accreditation plus NAEYC tiers will be eligible to use the Parent Aware accelerated rating pathway. In addition, these tiers will also count for the Child Care Assistance Program’s 15 percent higher tier of reimbursement for higher quality programs. This change provides flexibility in the definition of being “accredited,” to account for new options for validating accreditation.  

Updates have been made to Develop to improve user experience. Updates include a redesign of the Parent Aware application, the Grants applications, the Quality Dashboard, the Parent Aware Participation Agreement, and the user guides. For more information, visit Develop’s Announcements webpage.