Child Care and Education Rating: Bill signed

LEXINGTON, Ky. (WTVQ) — Governor Beshear ceremoniously signed a bill to enhance the rating systems for early child care and education programs on Monday.

According to Kentucky Kintergarten Readiness Screening, of the children entering Kindergarten, only 50 percent were ready for that level of work.

All STARS, the rating system that Beshear is backing, is designed to help families more easily locate facilities to help their children be ready to learn and succeed in school at a young age.

The system will also attempt to integrate new research about early learning in children, says the Governor’s office, rating programs based on classroom and instructional quality, administrative and leadership practices, staff qualification, as well as family and community engagement.

While the program currently only includes licensed child care programs, Authorities say the bill will expand the system to include all private programs that focus on education, as long as they receive public funding.

“All families want what is best for their children,” Gov. Beshear said. “Working parents need and deserve to know if their children are in high-quality care and education programs. This is another step in making sure all Kentucky children are safe, nurtured and prepared for school and life.”