TLC Center GFC utilizes a building on the Great Falls College Campus, located at 2300 19th ave South, Great Falls Mt 59405. 406-771-4421
Owner: Elizabeth Olson
Director: Crystal Kist
Assistant Director: Alexandra Olson
TLC Center GFC has assessed with the Stars to Quality Program in February 2022.
The scores are as follows:
PAS (Program Administrative Scale) 5.21
ECERS (Older classrooms) 5.68
ITERS (Younger Classrooms) 5.44
We will officially be awarded a Star Level 4 in June 2022.
https://dphhs.mt.gov/ecfsd/childcare/stars/index
What is STARS?
The Best Beginnings STARS to Quality Program is a voluntary quality rating and improvement system that aligns quality indicators with support and incentives for early childhood programs and early childhood professionals. The Early Childhood Services Bureau has enjoyed watching the program grow and develop with the input from the various stakeholders, and has listened carefully to early childhood professionals, parents, and national experts to provide a strong program, desired by many.
STARS has several components:
- Workforce Development
- Quality Rating and Improvement System (QRIS)
- Infrastructure to administer the programs, provide training , coaching, and technical assistance, and to validate the STARS system
TLC GFC is working towards becoming Nationally Accredited through the NAEYC.
For more information on what accreditation is please visit the NAEYC Website.
What are the requirements the our program had to meet to become a Star Level four?
STAR 4
• Professional Development and Practitioner Registry status requirements at this level are required
for employees working more than 1040 hours annually or working a minimum of 20 hours per
week.
• An Assessor will be visiting the facility at this level.
• Must meet all criteria for STAR 1, STAR 2, and STAR 3, along with the following:
Education, Qualifications & Training (EQT)
Practitioner Registry
EQT 1: Director (DIR) current on the Practitioner Registry at Level 4 or higher.
EQT 1: 50% of teaching staff (ECLT, ECAT) are current at Level 2 or higher AND 25% of teaching staff (ECLT, ECAT) are
current at Level 3 or higher on the Practitioner Registry.
STAR 4 Professional Development
Inclusion Course (15 hours)
EQT 2: Lead Teachers (ECLT) must be enrolled in or have completed Inclusion 1: Foundations for Inclusion (15 hours) or its
equivalent. It is available at ChildCareTraining.org.
• This course can be waived for individuals at Level 6 or higher on the Practitioner Registry
• EDEC 340: Practicing Inclusion in Preschool Programs is a 3-credit course (45 hours) and is an acceptable equivalent
for Inclusion I and Inclusion II. This course is available through UM-Western. Transcripts must be provided for this
course.
Family/Community Partnerships (FCP)
High Needs
FCP 1: Programs must serve a minimum 15% of high needs children, as defined in STARS Guidance & Procedures. Information
must be updated in the Classrooms tab within 3 months of STAR level submission.
Conferences
FCP 2: The program offers, in addition to ongoing conversations, a meeting/conference with each child’s family at least once
per year. Together, the child’s progress and needs are reviewed, and goals for the child are set.
Home/School Communication
FCP 3: Opportunities are available to facilitate exchange of information between the program and families, such as
home/school journals or notebooks, bulletin boards, newsletters, parent/family advisory councils, parent/family volunteers,
parent/family participation.
Developmental Screening
FCP 4: The program has a process in place and is offering developmental screening at the chosen tool’s recommended
intervals for all children enrolled.
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Best Beginnings STARS to Quality Center Standards of Quality
July 2021
High Quality Supportive Environments (HQSE)
Environment Rating Scale (ERS) Assessment
HQSE 1: The program will receive a formal assessment with the appropriate ERS (ECERS-3 and/or ITERS-3).
• The average facility score must be at least 4.0 overall.
• The finalized report(s) will inform the QIAP. Any subscale scores below a 4.0 must be addressed in the QIAP *.
Pyramid Model: Promoting Social Emotional Competence and School Readiness in Young
Children
HQSE 2: A 30-minute Introduction to the Pyramid Model: Promoting Social Emotional Competence and School Readiness in
Young Children will be offered to families by the program.
Leadership & Program Management (LPM)
Program Administration Scale (PAS) Assessment
LPM 1: The program will have a formal assessment. The average score must be at least 4.0
• Any subscale scores below a 4.0 must be addressed in the QIAP *.
For more information on the requirements for each Star Level please see:
https://dphhs.mt.gov/assets/ecfsd/childcare/STARS/CenterStandards.pdf
