5101:2-17-04 "Step Up To Quality" (SUTQ): changes, renewals, removals or requests to withdraw a SUTQ rating.

 

 

 

5101:2-17-04               "Step Up To Quality" (SUTQ): changes, renewals, removals or requests to withdraw a SUTQ rating.

 

 

 

(A)A program shall notify the Ohio department of job and family services (ODJFS) within ten business days if there is a change in a lead teacher who meets the program standards as described in the appendices to rule 5101:2-17-01 of the Administrative Code.

 

(B)(A) If the Ohio department of job and family services (ODJFS) or the Ohio department of education (ODE) determines that the star rated program no longer meets the program standards as a result of a change in paragraph (A) of this rule or as a result of an investigation pursuant to paragraph (N) of rule 5101:2-17-03 of the Administrative Code, a the star rating may be removed or a lesser star rating may be awarded.

 

(C)(B) Change in star rating.

 

(1)   A program may request a change in rating six months after the current rating effective date. To request a change in rating the child care program shall:

 

(a)   Log onto http://oclqs.ohio.gov to complete a change in rating.

 

(b)    Electronically submit the registration in preparation for the desk review and the verification visit.

 

(2)   If a program wishes to change its star rating, and its star rating expiration date is within six months of the request, the program shall submit a request for a change with its renewal.

 

(D)(C) Renewing a star rating and submitting the annual report.

 

(1)         A    program    shall     request      to    renew    its    rating      by    logging      onto http://oclqs.ohio.gov.

 

(a)    If the renewal registration is not submitted sixty ninety days prior to the star rating expiration date, the star rating shall expire on the expiration date.

 

(b)   The program shall wait six months from the expiration date to submit the new registration if its star rating expires.

 

(2)   A program shall complete and submit an annual report at http://oclqs.ohio.gov.

 

 

 

(a)    The annual report shall contain updated information as described in the appendices to rule 5101:2-17-01 of the Administrative Code.all of the following:

(i) Updated  information  as  described  in  the  appendices  to  rule 5101:2-17-01 of the Administrative Code.

(ii) A description of how the program has ensured that any new lead teachers have been trained on the program standards, if applicable.

(iii) A description of how the program has ensured that any new administrators have been trained on the program standards, if applicable.

(b)    If the annual report is not submitted thirty days prior to the anniversary date of the initial star rating:

(i)    The star rating shall be discontinued on the anniversary date of the star rating.

(ii)    The program shall wait six months from the date the star rating is discontinued before submitting a new registration.

(c)    If a star rated program no longer meets the program standards based on the information provided in the annual report, the program shall:

(i)         Complete a change in rating request by logging onto http://oclqs.ohio.gov within thirty days of notification to do so.

(ii)     Electronically submit the registration in preparation for the desk review and verification visit.

(d)  If the change of rating is not submitted within thirty days from the date of notification:

(i)   The star rating shall be discontinued on the thirty-first date after the date of notification.

(ii)    The program shall wait six months from the date the star rating is discontinued before submitting a new registration.

(3)   If the program has submitted a request for a change in rating, this request may be used to meet the requirements for a pendingan annual report.

(E)(D) Star rating removals and reductions.

(1)   A star rating shall be removed if the program receives a letter of intent to revoke a license from ODJFS.

(2)   For programs licensed by ODJFS: A star rating may be reduced or removed if ODJFS determines that the program has a six point serious risk noncompliance or an accumulation of twelve points within the previous twelve months as listed in appendix A to rule 5101:2-17-02 of the Administrative Code for ODJFS licensed child care centers, appendix B for licensed type A home providers, and appendix C for licensed type B home providers.

(a) A star rating may be reduced or removed if ODJFS determines that the program has a six point serious risk non-compliance or an accumulation of twelve serious risk non-compliance points within the previous twelve months.

(b) Serious risk non-compliances are listed in appendix A to rule 5101:2-17-02 of the Administratve Code for child care centers, appendix B for licensed type A home providers, and appendix C for licensed type B home providers.

(3) For programs licensed by ODE, a star rating may be reduced or removed if ODE determines that the program has a six point serious risk non-compliance as shown in rule 3301-37-02 of the Administrative Code for preschools and rule 3301-32-11 of the Administrative Code for school child programs.

(3)(4) A star rating may be reduced or removed at times other than during a request for change, renewal or annual report if ODJFS or ODE determines the program is not meeting any of the standards outlined in the appendices to rule 5101:2-17-01 of the Administrative Code.

(4)(5)  If  a  star  rating  is  reduced  pursuant  to  paragraph  (E)(D)(2),  (D)(3)  or (E)(3)(D)(4) of this rule:

(a)    The new rating awarded by ODJFS will expire twelve months after the new rating begin date.

(b)   The program may not request a change in rating for six months after the new rating begin date including when a program is determined to be at a zero rating.

(5)(6) If a star rating is removed pursuant to paragraph (E)(D)(1), (E)(D)(2), (D)(3) or (E)((3)(D)(4) of this rule, the program may not register for a rating for twelve months from the date of removal.

(6)(7) A star rated program whose star rating has been removed shall not display, disseminate or utilize any SUTQ marketing materials provided by ODJFS or ODE.

(F)(E) Withdrawing from SUTQ.

(1)   A program that has submitted a request for SUTQ or that has a current SUTQ rating may withdraw from SUTQ by completing and submitting the JFS 01556 " Request to Withdraw From Step Up To Quality" (rev. 5/2015).

(2)    The effective date of the program's withdrawal from SUTQ will be the date requested on the JFS 01556 or thirty days from the date of the signature on the JFS 01556, whichever is later.

(3)    A program may submit a new registration six months after it is notified by ODJFS the effective date of the withdrawal that they have been withdrawn.

Effective:	06/26/2016
Five Year Review (FYR) Dates:	10/01/2018
CERTIFIED ELECTRONICALLY
Certification
06/16/2016
Date
Promulgated Under:	119.03
Statutory Authority:	5104.29
Rule Amplifies:	5104.29
Prior Effective Dates:	10/1/2013, 7/20/2014, 5/24/15