October 9, 2025 By CDHD IdahoSTARS and U of I celebrate Quality Achievers Last week, IdahoSTARS joined the University of Idaho (U of I) Children’s Center to recognize the child care team’s outstanding commitment to quality early care and education. IdahoSTARS Director Melissa Crist and Region 2 team members Darla Amundson and Layna Franklin visited the U of I Children’s Center to celebrate their success. The U of I team received six of the seven Quality STARS Achievements on offer. This includes: Business Practices Health, Safety and Wellness Environments, Curriculum and Instruction Child Development Partnerships with Families and Community National Accreditation. They were presented with their Quality Achievers banner as well as some treats and balloons to officially mark the occasion. "Their success stems from the unwavering commitment and passion of all staff in the field of early care and education. Their dedication to professional development, active engagement in coaching, and responsiveness to feedback reflect the high value they place on supporting children and families in Idaho," said Darla. This success story is an excellent example of how IdahoSTARS works with providers across the state to ensure they’re not only receiving personalized support in their professional growth, but that they’re also equipped with the knowledge and skills to provide the best care to Idaho’s children. We’re proud of the collaboration between IdahoSTARS and U of I’s Children’s Center, and are looking forward to seeing the continued success of these early care and education professionals. What is Quality Achievers? Launched in May, Quality Achievers replaces the previous Quality Rating and Improvement System, Steps to Quality. It offers a voluntary pathway for child care programs to demonstrate and grow high-quality practices through personalized support and recognition. The program recognizes programs for meeting foundational Quality Essentials in child care through their Growing Star program. It also recognizes Quality Essentials and high-quality achievements through the Star Achiever program. Key support and recognition include: Coaching to improve practices and environments Assessments Recognition programs Incentives when programs meet their quality goals. You can find more information about the Quality Achievers program through the IdahoSTARS website, or email QA@idahostars.org.