MRTQ PDN is very excited to introduce the new, FREE, 8-hour, on demand Preschool Maine’s Early Learning and Development Standards (P-MELDS) training! This new training is included in the Rising Stars for ME Standards. Read the list below to see where you fit to determine if the new training could affect your Rising Stars for ME goals: 

If you have already taken the 30-hour online MELDS training, you already meet the requirements for: 

• Facilities 3.3.6: Program Owner/Director with children ages 36 months to kindergarten enrolled. 

• Facilities 3.3.8: (At least one) Teacher or Assistant Teacher caring for children ages 36 months to kindergarten. 

• Family Child Care 3.3.6: Program Owner with children ages 36 months to kindergarten enrolled. 

If you have NOT taken the 30-hour online MELDS training, you can complete the new on-demand P-MELDS to meet the above requirements. 

Everyone is welcome and encouraged to take the new P-MELDS training! 

If you have general questions about the Rising Stars for ME application or Standards, please visit the Office of Child and Family Service’s Rising Stars for ME website or email risingstarsforme@maine.edu. 

Amber Taurasi at the Office of Child and Family Services (OCFS) is beginning to contact child care programs about conducting a site visit.  Programs are randomly selected for a scheduled site visit to validate a program’s Rising Stars for ME application. These visits are a requirement for all licensed and license-exempt non-relative programs in Maine, regardless of current Star rating. A site visit does vary based on the individual program.

• For Star 1 and 2 programs: No Rising Stars for ME E-Portfolio is required. The site visit will answer any questions and make connections if the program is interested. If documents have been uploaded into E-Portfolio, an individualized plan can be created to assist the program in their effort to achieve a higher Star level. If the program is not interested in moving to a higher Star rating, a visit is still required by OCFS.  In this case, the site visit will typically take less than 30 minutes. 
• For Star 3 and 4 programs: E-Portfolio evidence (electronic or hard copy) that specific requirements are being met within each of the seven (7) Standards must be maintained. The evidence must be available when a program is chosen for site visit. If the applicable information is already uploaded to the online application, nothing additional is needed. These visits typically take about 90 minutes. 
• For Star 5 programs: Most Rising Stars for ME requirements are covered via the accreditation requirements. The site visit includes reviewing staffing qualifications, trainings, and Rising Stars for ME Inclusive Practices Checklist. These visits typically take about 60 minutes.

How should I prepare for the visit?

To ensure an efficient Site Visit and Review, please have the following available:

• A workspace set up review materials
• Rising Stars for ME evidence, if not already uploaded to www.risingstarsforme.org

You will receive a summary of the visit’s findings within ten (10) business days of the Site Visit and Review. If you have general questions about the Rising Stars for ME application or Standards, please visit the Office of Child and Family Service’s Rising Stars for ME website or email risingstarsforme@maine.edu. 

Rising Stars for ME is meant to be inclusive for all programs in Maine, no matter the size, philosophy, or location! If your program has a specific focus, such as outdoor learning, there are several ways you can demonstrate that in your Rising Stars for ME application and E-Portfolio. For example:

• In Standard 1: Learning Environment and Developmentally Appropriate Practice under Star 4 you can include information about your program’s philosophy on outdoor learning in your articulated approach to learning and development.

• Your program’s Continuous Quality Improvement Plan can include goals related to outdoor learning for Standard 2: Program Evaluation, Stars 3 and 4.

• In Standard 7: Health, Safety, Physical Activity, and Nutrition you program can choose nutrition and physical activity goal(s) related to outdoor learning for Stars 3 and 4. Go NAPSACC includes a focus area specific to outdoor learning to get you started!

There are many ways for programs to show off their unique approaches and features with the Rising Stars for ME Standards. We want to see what makes your program special! If you have general questions about the Rising Stars for ME application or Standards, please visit the Office of Child and Family Service’s Rising Stars for ME website or email risingstarsforme@maine.edu.

Programs with a Conditional License must be enrolled with Rising Stars for ME to comply with licensing regulations. The rating given to programs with a Conditional License is Star 2 Restricted. This rating recognizes the program’s participation with Rising Stars for ME and that it is not currently in good standing with licensing, which is required for programs to rate at Star 2 or higher. 

Unlike the previous system, Quality for ME, programs that resolve their Conditional License and are again given a full license are allowed to reapply for a new Rising Stars for ME immediately. In the past, programs with “serious licensing violations” were held at a lower Step for up to three years. With Rising Stars for ME, programs can complete an application to reach their previous rating and there are no restrictions on when the program can apply for a higher rating. 

Programs with a Conditional License will receive a new “Star 2 Restricted” certificate with an updated expiration date to align with the Conditional License expiration date. This certificate must be displayed in the program for the duration of the Conditional License. 

If you have general questions about the Rising Stars for ME application or Standards, please visit the Office of Child and Family Service’s Rising Stars for ME website or email risingstarsforme@maine.edu. 

This is such a timely question! YES – those with Director of Record Access (DoRA) or DoRA Assistant can now update program openings and certain display information on Child Care Choices! Updates are made through the program’s Rising Stars for ME profile. 

Once the DoRA or DoRA Assistant has logged in to the program’s Rising Stars for ME profile, select the “My Child Care Choices search profile”: 

MRTQ PDN’s Quality Improvement Toolkits (QITs) for Center-based and Family Child Care Programs are a great place to start! These on-demand resources provide a detailed overview of what program evaluation is and how to plan for it in your program. You’ll find resources like: 

• Program Evaluation Plan Templates 

• Examples of Staff and Family Surveys 

• Self-Assessments for Program Directors 

• Equipment and Materials Checklists 

You can access the Quality Improvement Toolkits for FREE at any time! Simply log in to your MRTQ Registry account at https://mrtq-registry.org and click on “Access” under Online Training. On the next page, scroll down to On-Demand Training to find the QIT that’s right for you, then click “Enroll.” 

(Note that if you have previously enrolled in a QIT that you may need to re-enroll in the updated version.) 

If you have general questions about the Rising Stars for ME application or Standards, please visit the Office of Child and Family Service’s Rising Stars for ME website or email risingstarsforme@maine.edu. 

Programs at Star 2 should have received information about MRTQ PDN’s new Quality Improvement Award process. (Note that information for all other programs will be available next month.)

There have been many questions about this new process, including what programs are eligible, how to apply, and what the award process requires.

To streamline support for this new initiative, all questions on the new QIA process should be addressed to mrtq.qia@maine.edu

If you have general questions about the Rising Stars for ME application or Standards, please visit the Office of Child and Family Service’s Rising Stars for ME website or email risingstarsforme@maine.edu.

Every week SHORTcuts includes the link to the Rising Stars for ME Tip of the Week Archive. If you’re short on time and want to review some of the most popular tips related to the E-Portfolio, check out the following: 

1. Are there instructions for completing the Rising Stars for ME application and E-Portfolio? 

1. There are so many items on the list for the E-Portfolio. Do I really need them all? 

1. I’m getting ready to begin the Rising Stars for ME application and create my E-Portfolio. What file types does the E-Portfolio accept? 

1. How often do I need to update my E-Portfolio? 

For additional resources on the Rising Stars for ME application or Standards, please visit the Office of Child and Family Service’s Rising Stars for ME website or email risingstarsforme@maine.edu. 

Every week SHORTcuts includes the link to the Rising Stars for ME Tip of the Week Archive. If you’re short on time and want to review some of the most popular tips related to the P MELDS and IT MELDS, check out the following: 

1. Do I need to take the P MELDS or IT MELDS? 

1. I have not completed the MELDS or IT MELDS, but I have a college degree and ten years of experience. Can I get a waiver for this training requirement? 

1. What if my staff or I can’t get into a MELDS or IT MELDS training before our Rising Stars for ME expiration date? 

1. Important Information from the MRTQ PDN Training Coordinator Regarding IT MELDS & MELDS Waivers 

For additional resources on the Rising Stars for ME application or Standards, please visit the Office of Child and Family Service’s Rising Stars for ME website or email risingstarsforme@maine.edu. 

Important note: This requirement applies to FACILITIES only. Family child care programs do not have a requirement around this policy. 

Standard 7 addresses Health, Safety, Physical Activity, and Nutrition. Under Star 3 there is a requirement that reads “The Provider Handbook includes a policy describing how the program meets the dietary needs of children/youth, taking into consideration diverse food and nutrition as determined by culture, religion, and/or disabilities.” 

This requirement applies whether a program prepares food or if families send food from home. There should be a policy in place that informs families of the program’s approach to all meal and snack times. For example, are there are types of foods that are discouraged or prohibited? How does the program address food allergies? Does the program offer support to families facing food insecurity? 

Each program’s policy will be unique and address the needs and concerns of the children, families, and staff that eat at the program. 

Looking for guidance around nutrition? Check out this previous Tip of the Week for resources around Standard 7 that address nutrition. 

For additional resources on the Rising Stars for ME application or Standards, please visit the Office of Child and Family Service’s Rising Stars for ME website or email risingstarsforme@maine.edu.