What is BrightStars?
BrightStars helps child care providers in Rhode Island learn about best practices in early learning and apply them to the care your child receives.
Child care and early learning programs voluntarily sign up to be a member of BrightStars and are assessed across many quality standards and criteria.
Following their assessment, child care and early learning programs work with BrightStars to further implement best practices related to quality.
BrightStars assesses child care program quality in the following areas:
Child’s Daily Experience
We look for
daily activities and interactions that show
the program is providing a safe, healthy,
and stimulating environment for all children, including children with disabilities.
Teaching and Learning
We look at a program’s
curriculum and whether
children have many
opportunities to practice
emerging skills.
Staff-Child Ratio and
Group Size
We make
sure that there are enough staff to supervise
children and that children are cared for in
small groups.
Family Communication and Involvement
We look for meaningful opportunities for you
to be involved in decisions regarding your
child’s care.
Staff Qualifications
We review whether your
child’s teacher and the program director have
formal training in early childhood education.
Program Management
We support
programs in developing plans to improve the
care that your child receives every day.