Step Up to Quality
Child care budget: Step Up to Quality remains, low-income care boosted
Child care in the state will still have one standard-making process that was nearly cut from the state budget, while other investments in broadband and publicly-funded child care come with praise from Ohio advocates. Leaders of child care facilities and policy advocates in the state were worried that Step Up to Quality, the state’s standard-monitoring […]
Child care leaders ‘outraged’ at state Senate’s removal of quality system in budget proposal
The removal of the Step Up to Quality child care standards system as proposed in the Ohio Senate’s version of the budget was not only against the wishes of some child care leaders, but also came without any warning. “It was calculated,” said Dawn Blalock, co-owner of the Little Miracles Early Development Center. “It was […]
With CARES Act funding drying up, Ohio joins nation in finding new sources of child care support
While child care centers are still in need of support to make it through the pandemic, Ohio was not alone in having to find more money beyond federal dollars amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Ohio’s methods of subsidizing struggling child care facilities were part of a national study done by the non-profit think tank Bipartisan Policy […]
Grants, incentives offered to boost early childhood care in Ohio
In an effort to expand a state-mandated childcare rating system and improve the quality of childcare, the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services is offering millions in grants and incentives to programs across the state. ODJFS said they are offering $7 million to providers who are not currently a part of their Step Up […]