What Keystone STARS means for Pennsylvania child care

What Pennsylvania's Keystone STARS quality rating is, what STAR 1 to 4 do and do not tell you, and how to use the level alongside the license.

If you search for child care in Pennsylvania you will see references to STAR levels. This guide explains what Keystone STARS is, what the levels do and do not tell you, and how to use them alongside the license and a visit. It describes the state's system; it does not rate any program, and the level on a profile is the state's own. This is general information, not legal advice.

What it is

Keystone STARS is Pennsylvania's Quality Rating and Improvement System, designed to assess, improve and communicate the level of quality in early and school-age care and education programs. It is run by the state's Office of Child Development and Early Learning, within the Department of Human Services, and Pennsylvania Key (pakeys.org) is the public-facing site. Programs choose to take part, and participating programs can receive technical assistance. A program with no STAR level has therefore not necessarily failed anything; it may simply not take part.

The four levels

Participating programs are designated STAR 1 through STAR 4. STAR 1 is the entry level for programs that are certified and in compliance, and STAR 4 is the highest. The levels rise as a program meets more of the quality standards. The exact criteria are set by the state and can change, so we do not list them here. Pennsylvania Key and the Department of Human Services publish the current standards if you want the detail. Some programs also carry an accreditation label in the state file, which we show as the state gives it.

The level is the state's, not ours

On this site the Keystone level appears as a fact from the state's data and as a browse list. We do not add to it, weight it or use it to order listings. Lists remain alphabetical, and a listing is not a recommendation.

What the level can tell you

• That the program has chosen to take part in a state quality-improvement process.
• That it has been assessed against published standards at that level.
• That it may receive supports tied to participation. Ask the state or the program for details, including whether a level affects subsidy payment rates.

What it cannot tell you

• Whether your child will be happy there. Relationships between staff and children are hard to capture in a level.
• Whether the program is in good standing today. The level is separate from licensing inspections and complaints, so check the license and any inspection record too.
• Whether a program without a level is worse. Some good programs do not participate, and some small ones lack the time or resources to do so.
• How the level will look next year. Levels are reviewed over time, and a program can move up or down.

How to use it, step by step

1. Confirm the license first, using the state's provider search at findchildcare.pa.gov. The level means little if the license is not current.
2. Note the level on our profile, then compare it with the state's own listing, since ours is a snapshot.
3. Ask the program what it did to reach its level and what it is working on next. A director who can answer in concrete terms, such as changes to staff training or how teachers plan activities, is giving you useful information.
4. Visit, and use our questions and signs to look for.

An example of using the level sensibly

This is an illustration, not a real program. Suppose you are comparing two centers near you. One shows STAR 3 and the other shows no level. The level is a prompt, not a verdict. You would still check both licenses, ask each about staff turnover and ratios, and spend time in both rooms. You might find the unrated one has long-serving teachers and a calm room, and the STAR 3 one is more expensive. The level helped you ask a question; it did not answer it.

Other labels you may see

Our Pennsylvania profiles may also show whether the state file lists a program as taking part in a state-funded pre-kindergarten program or as a Head Start provider. These are program types, not quality judgements, and each has its own eligibility rules, which you can find through the state.

For other states, see how to check a child care license in NY, PA, MA and WA.

Questions to ask a program about its STAR level

• When did you reach this level, and when is the next review?
• What has changed in the classroom because of the program, for example staff training or the way activities are planned?
• If you have no level, are you planning to take part, and why or why not?
• Do your fees differ because of the level?

These are not trick questions. They simply let you hear how the program thinks about quality. A director who is proud of what the process changed will usually be able to tell you; a director who is not part of the system may have other strengths worth hearing about.

Keystone STARS and paying for care

Families sometimes ask whether a STAR level changes what they pay. Fees are set by each program. Some programs accept Pennsylvania's child care subsidy, and the state may link payment rates to quality levels, but the details change and depend on the program and your family's eligibility. Ask the program directly, and ask the county or state subsidy office what applies to you. Do not assume that a higher level means a higher or lower price; compare the actual fee sheets.

The same caution applies in reverse. A low fee does not tell you about quality, and a high fee does not either. The level, the license, the inspection record and your visit each give a different piece of the picture.

Updated 2026-10-02.

General information only, current as of the date above. The information on Daycare License Check is not a safety rating or recommendation. Inspection records show what the state found on the dates shown; problems may since have been corrected, and a clean record does not guarantee future safety. Visit any program in person and check the state's own records before you choose. Rules and programs change; check the official sources linked in this guide.