Full-Rating Resources

The forms, samples, policies, and resources below help licensed family child care and center-based programs taking the Full-Rating Pathway.

Contact your Quality Coach if you have any questions about the Rating process or these forms. If you haven’t joined Parent Aware and don’t have a Coach, go to our Join Us page to connect with the right person.

Not sure if you should be on the Full-Rating Pathway? Read more about the Rating Pathways.

 

Standards and Indicators
Parent Aware provides a common set of program standards for child care and early education programs. The program standards, combined with the Parent Aware Indicators, are also known as the Parent Aware “kindergarten readiness best practices.” There are five broad quality Categories used to identify best practices in child care and early education programs: Teaching and Relationships with Children, Relationships with Families, Assessment of Young Children, Professionalism, and Health and Well-Being.

• Standards and Indicators
• Standards and Indicators FAQs
• Full-Rating Best Practices

Training and Professional Development
Ongoing training and professional development gives providers and teachers skills to offer the high-quality learning environments and interactions needed to prepare children for school. Your Professional Development Advisor (PDA) will help you put a plan together, and answer questions about these resources:

• Professional Development Plan
• Verifying and Documenting Coaching, Consultation, and Mentoring
• Develop
• Full-Rating Training Requirements

 

Early Childhood Indicators of Progress (ECIPs)
The Early Childhood Indicators of Progress (ECIPs), also known as Minnesota’s Early Learning Guidelines, outline a set of expectations for young children. All programs are encouraged to use the ECIPs to guide their planning and practices. Visit the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) website to download the full set of new ECIPs.

 

Aligned Curricula
Using one or more curricula helps providers and teachers plan and use effective instruction. These tools align with the Minnesota Early Childhood Indicators of Progress (ECIPs) and meet Parent Aware curriculum requirements.

• Aligned Curricula

 

Curriculum Nomination Form & Guide
What do you do if your curriculum is not on the approved list? Nominate it by completing the Curriculum Nomination Form and submitting it, along with supporting materials, to Parent Aware.

• Curriculum Nomination Form & Guide

 

Approved Assessment Tools
Child assessment tools help providers and teachers understand each child’s development, and plan lessons to meet their individual needs. These tools meet Parent Aware assessment requirements.

• Approved Assessment Tools

 

Child Assessment Nomination Form & Guide
What do you do if your assessment is not on the approved list? Nominate it by completing the Child Assessment Nomination Form and submitting it, along with supporting materials, to Parent Aware.

•  Child Assessment Nomination Form & Guide

 

Environment Self-Assessment (ESA)
The Environment Self-Assessment (ESA) helps providers and teachers review their resources, practices, and learning environment. In Parent Aware, you review the quality of learning and care, celebrate your strengths, and find opportunities for growth.

• ESA: Licensed Family Child Care
• ESA: Licensed Child Care Center-Infant and Toddler
• ESA: Licensed Child Care Center-Preschool 

 

Classroom Assessment and Scoring System (CLASS®)
Parent Aware uses the Classroom Assessment and Scoring System (CLASS®) to provide on-site observation for licensed child care centers serving preschool children, applying for a Three- or Four-Star Rating.

The CLASS® tool is used to review the quality of adult-child interactions in the classroom in three areas: emotional support, classroom organization, and instructional support.

Research tells us that children in classrooms with higher CLASS® scores make greater academic and social gains when compared to children in classrooms with lower CLASS® scores.