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Step Up To Quality Stories

Special Tax Credits More Widely Available to Child Care Programs and Teachers

In 2016, Nebraska became just the second state (after Louisiana paved the way) to create tax credits for early childhood education programs and teachers. “I’ve traveled all over the country to conferences and have visited with experts in the early childhood education field from all over, and I can tell...Read More › - Special Tax Credits More Widely Available to Child Care Programs and Teachers

Meet the Step Up to Quality Team: Jenny Fleming

The Step Up to Quality team is an incredible resource for child care providers moving through the process – and they can also connect providers with other early childhood education resources. As a part of the State of Nebraska Department of Education’s Office of Early Childhood, the Step...Read More › - Meet the Step Up to Quality Team: Jenny Fleming

What is a QRIS?

Step Up to Quality is Nebraska’s Quality Rating and Improvement System (QRIS). Back in early 2013, when the Nebraska Legislature introduced LB507, the Step Up to Quality Act, not every state had a QRIS. Now, nearly every state does.

QRIS History

The QRIS framework was developed in the 1990s as a...Read More › - What is a QRIS?

Meet the Step Up to Quality Team: Lynne Cook

The Step Up to Quality team is an incredible resource for child care providers going through the five Steps – and they can also connect providers with other early childhood education resources. As a part of the State of Nebraska Department of Education’s Office of Early Childhood, the...Read More › - Meet the Step Up to Quality Team: Lynne Cook
Lynne Cook Headshot

Step 2: Training

Even Olympic-level athletes train. New technologies are always sprouting up, new techniques are always being discovered and new records are always being broken. The pursuit for excellence never ends – which means it’s more about the journey than the end result. The same applies to Step Up to Quality. “We want all providers...Read More › - Step 2: Training
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Meet the Step Up to Quality Team: Morgan Krull

The Step Up to Quality team is an incredible resource for child care providers going through the five Steps – and they can also connect providers with other early childhood education resources. As a part of the State of Nebraska Department of Education’s Office of Early Childhood, the...Read More › - Meet the Step Up to Quality Team: Morgan Krull

How to Talk to Young Children About Race

Research has proven again and again: the first five years of a person’s life are the most formative. The first several years of life build a base for future health and life success, including how to relate to the rest of the world. It’s up to the adults...Read More › - How to Talk to Young Children About Race

Step by Step…You’ll Get There!

They say the hardest step for a runner isn’t the last one of a marathon, as you might imagine. It’s actually the first one out their front door. Gathering the gumption and courage to take action and do more than just dip your toe into something is universally hard. At Step Up...Read More › - Step by Step…You’ll Get There!

What Happens When a Program Reaches Step 5?

The Step Up to Quality process consists of five steps. Once programs have made it to the fifth step, they’re rated every five years to maintain that level. But first, celebrations are definitely in order. “It’s a big accomplishment!” said Lynne Cook, the coaching specialist at Step Up to Quality.

Lifelong Learning

They’re not...Read More › - What Happens When a Program Reaches Step 5?

A New Emphasis on Quality Child Care

With many parents working from home during the COVID-19 pandemic, and with many child care providers temporarily closing or reducing the number of children they care for during that time, we are seeing a new level of appreciation for high quality care.

Grateful Parents

Parents have always appreciated their child care providers...Read More › - A New Emphasis on Quality Child Care

5 Tips on How to Find High Quality Child Care From a Distance

A common piece of advice when parents are searching for child care is to “trust your gut” when meeting with the director or owner, and touring the facility. But what can parents rely on when they can’t tour a facility in person? The COVID-19 pandemic is changing the way a lot of...Read More › - 5 Tips on How to Find High Quality Child Care From a Distance

What is it Like to Go Through the Step Up to Quality Process?

When you ask people for advice, the most valuable insights often come from peers who are in the same situation as you. Sometimes that extra empathy and a “I really get it” mentality helps to provide additional clarity and wisdom. Others who might not have walked in those shoes don’t have...Read More › - What is it Like to Go Through the Step Up to Quality Process?

Gratitude Ideas for Provider Appreciation Day

It takes a village to raise a child: parents, families, teachers and child care providers all contribute to shaping the next generation. With more than 75 percent of both parents in Nebraska homes working outside the home, children sometimes spend more of their waking hours with child care providers and...Read More › - Gratitude Ideas for Provider Appreciation Day

Why is Play Important for Kids?

Kids naturally love to play, and parents often love to join in on the fun, too. But is there more to play than what meets the eye?

Awesome Adventures

Jene and her husband love to take their toddler on little adventures and they love to spend time with him and play. But like...Read More › - Why is Play Important for Kids?

We Want to See Those First Steps!

That first step. It’s a milestone moment. It signifies a whole new chapter, a new way of living. It’s hard to overstate what a big deal it is — you may not even realize it in the moment. We could be talking about any first step — the first training run for...Read More › - We Want to See Those First Steps!

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