Early Learning Resources Ohio (ELRO)

ELRO can provide discounts on products & services like food, HR services, J is for JOBS posting boards along with tips and templates for parent resources and family engagement ideas! You can find out more here.

Step Up To Quality

On July 7, the new Step Up To Quality (SUTQ) standards went into effect. All currently rated programs will have until July 1, 2025, to begin implementing the new SUTQ standards.

Quality rating banners will feature Bronze, Silver and Gold awards. This rating system change is being made throughout Ohio.

With any change, comes many questions. What does this mean for programs that are already rated? What do new programs have to do? How will this benefit children and families?

What is Step Up To Quality?

This rating and improvement system was previously administered by the Ohio Department of Education and the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services. The newly minted Department of Children and Youth (DCY) is now overseeing SUTQ and the migration to the new rating system. The system will continue to recognize programs that exceed licensing requirements by meeting quality standards in learning and development.

Child care programs were previously rated from one to five stars, depending on the standards they met. For example, one-star programs were required to have teachers complete 20 hours of specialized training every two years, be familiar with Ohio’s Early Learning Development Standards (ELDS), focus on building relationships with families and be committed to continuous improvement.

In comparison, five-star programs were required to have higher education qualifications for staff, lesson plans for each child, assessments to evaluate and improve learning experiences and value families and the community.

Learning and Development Changes

Programs at all levels are required to implement a curriculum aligned with ELDS. This includes classroom screenings and self-assessments. With these new requirements, programs that are currently SUTQ rated will have a year to make changes to keep their ratings

Need help navigating the updated Step Up to Quality changes?

Contact us at: 1-877-691-8521 and ask for an Early Childhood Specialist in your county.