The Penn Child Research Center and the Consortium for Policy Research in Education released a new report to identify opportunities to improve Pennsylvania’s Keystone STARS rating system. The goal of this research was to support the continued advancement of quality early learning programs state-wide to ultimately strengthen student outcomes. In 2003, Pennsylvania implemented Keystone STARS, one of the first state-level Quality Rating and Improvement Systems (QRIS) in the country, as a tool to improve access to quality early learning programs for young children. Now, more than a decade later, improving the quality of early childhood programs remains important because high-quality early learning opportunities are strongly associated with positive developmental outcomes including enhanced communication skills, better academic abilities early in life, healthier social-emotional outcomes, and improved cognitive functioning.
