Locations
Maine
Statistics on children, youth and families in Maine from the Annie E. Casey Foundation and the Maine Children's Alliance
High-quality child care/Rising Stars for ME
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Why This Indicator Matters
A child’s earliest years are critical for their future success. Quality early education programs have lasting benefits. These early years lay the foundation for everything from academic and career achievement to health and wellness to maintaining healthy personal relationships.
What the Data Shows
As of December 1, 2023, 23.5% of center-based child care programs have achieved a rating of 4 or 5, compared to 11.1% of family child care providers and 17.7% or 265 child care programs in the state. Those programs with 4 or 5 stars in Rising Stars for ME are deemed to be high-quality child care programs.
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What the Data Shows
As of December 1, 2023, 23.5% of center-based child care programs have achieved a rating of 4 or 5, compared to 11.1% of family child care providers and 17.7% or 265 child care programs in the state. Those programs with 4 or 5 stars in Rising Stars for ME are deemed to be high-quality child care programs.
Definition and Source
PROVIDER
Definition
The number and percent of all child care providers that have an active license and were enrolled in the 4-step mandatory rating system, (2 to 5 stars) called Rising Stars for ME, and who have achieved either 4 stars or the highest level, 5 stars. The data represent the number and percent of family-based child cares and center-based child cares enrolled in the Rising Stars for ME quality rating system who have achieved either 4 or 5 stars in the months of June 2023 and December 2023.
Data Source
Maine Office for Children and Families. (OCFS). See also OCFS Early Childhood Data Dashboard for similar info about high-quality child care, though only for children with a child care subsidy.
Notes
Nursery schools are not included. The Rising Star system is mandatory as of March 2023 and upon completion of enrollment, the child care achieves a rating of 2 stars. More stars are awarded as the child care provides evidence of various components of a quality program such as a curriculum. Child care providers whose license is being reviewed may be missing from this data.
Last Updated
December 2023