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Feb. 18, 2026
Standards and Indicators changing July 1, 2026
The Minnesota Department of Children, Youth, and Families is making updates to the way Parent Aware awards Star Ratings. You are receiving this email because your child care program is currently participating in Parent Aware or is eligible to.
What's changing?
Parent Aware Standards and Indicators are changing. These are the quality measures used to award Star Ratings. Changes include:
- A new One-Star Rating Pathway option for licensed programs
- A change to the definition of “in good standing” with licensing
- For programs using the Full-Rating Pathway, two Indicators for points are changing to:
- Recognize early educators for receiving CLASS coaching with points for Three- or Four-Star Ratings
- Recognize early educators with AA degrees or higher with points for Three- or Four-Star Ratings
- For programs using the Full-Rating and Accelerated Pathways, the training requirements are changing to:
- Expand the types of training that count for Parent Aware to include training in new Knowledge and Competency Framework Content Areas
To learn more about the differences between the 2016 and 2026 Standards and Indicators and why these changes were made, see the Summary of Changes (February 2026). More information, including updated forms for Parent Aware, will be provided in spring 2026.
When is it changing?
The new set of Standards and Indicators (2026) will begin July 1, 2026. Until then, Parent Aware will continue to use the current Standards and Indicators (2016).
Background
This update is part of a process that explored options for changes to Parent Aware from May 2023 through December 2025. The process engaged families, early care and education programs, and other interested parties. It was also informed by the Parent Aware Evaluation (Sept. 2024).
More information
Additional background on the Parent Aware Standards and Indicators, and the process used to update them, can be found on the DCYF Parent Aware Standards and Indictors webpage. Additional information about the Knowledge and Competency Framework Content Areas can be found on the DCYF Knowledge and Competency Framework webpage.
If you have questions about the Parent Aware Standards and Indicators, send them to dcyf.child.care@state.mn.us. If you want to talk to someone about participating in Parent Aware, contact your local recruiter. Parent Aware recruiters can be contacted using the Parent Aware “join us” webpage.
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