Keystone STARS is Pennsylvania's voluntary daycare quality rating, awarded from STAR 1 up to STAR 4, where higher levels reflect higher program standards. Because joining is optional, not every certified Pennsylvania program has a STAR level — so the absence of a rating does not, on its own, mean a program is weaker.
If you are comparing daycares in Pennsylvania and see a Keystone STARS level, this guide explains what it measures, who runs and certifies programs, how to confirm it, and how it connects to cost and subsidy — so you can use it as one input, not the whole decision. Keystone STARS is run by the Pennsylvania Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL), a joint office of the Departments of Human Services and Education, within the broader structure the federal Administration for Children and Families (ACF) Office of Child Care sets for states.
Keystone STARS is Pennsylvania's voluntary quality rating, awarded from STAR 1 up to STAR 4, where higher levels reflect higher standards. It is run by the Pennsylvania Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL), per the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the federal ACF Office of Child Care. Pennsylvania launched Keystone STARS in 2002, and participation is optional, so a program can be fully certified and excellent without holding a STAR level.
A quality rating system does two jobs at once. It rates programs so families can compare them, and it improves programs by pairing higher levels with coaching, training, and resources. Pennsylvania built Keystone STARS with support from the federal Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) administered by the ACF Office of Child Care.
Certification is the mandatory floor that every program must clear: the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS), through the Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL), certifies child care programs. Keystone STARS is the voluntary rating measured on top of that floor. The table below sorts out what each label means.
| Label | What to know |
|---|---|
| Keystone STARS | Pennsylvania's voluntary quality rating, STAR 1 up to STAR 4, run by the Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL). Higher levels reflect higher standards; not every certified program participates. |
| Certification (Pennsylvania DHS / OCDEL) | The mandatory baseline every program must meet, issued by the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS). Confirm current status and compliance history. |
| Accreditation | Optional national recognition, such as NAEYC (the National Association for the Education of Young Children), separate from the state and a useful extra signal. |
Because Keystone STARS is voluntary, you will see STAR levels on some Pennsylvania programs and not others — so confirm the current certification status and compliance history first, then read the level as a bonus signal where it exists.
Start with the certification: confirm the program's status with the Pennsylvania Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) and review any compliance history. Then look at the Keystone STARS level. Treat any rating as one verified data point alongside your own tour, because ratings can lag a program's real, day-to-day conditions by a year or more.
Honest tradeoff. Because Keystone STARS is voluntary, a strong program may simply have skipped the rating process, and a rated program's STAR level can lag what a room feels like day to day. A STAR 4 center can still have a weak classroom, and an unrated program can be excellent. Use the level to start, not to finish.
Keystone STARS does not set tuition, which each program decides on its own. But in Pennsylvania, the state ties higher subsidy reimbursement to higher STAR levels, while the Child Care Works (CCW) subsidy program through the Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) helps eligible families pay, a structure the ACF Office of Child Care encourages under the federal Child Care and Development Fund. For national context, ChildCare Aware of America's 2024 Price of Child Care report put center-based care at roughly $8,000 to $24,000 per year depending on age and state.
For Pennsylvania-specific figures, see our daycare cost guide and estimate your own with the cost calculator. If you may qualify for help paying, the Child Care Works (CCW) program through the Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) is the place to start.
Keystone STARS is Pennsylvania's voluntary quality rating for child care and early learning programs, awarded from STAR 1 up to STAR 4, where higher levels reflect higher standards. It is run by the Pennsylvania Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL), a joint office of the Departments of Human Services and Education, per the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the federal ACF Office of Child Care. Pennsylvania launched Keystone STARS in 2002.
The Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS), through the Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL), certifies child care programs, per the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Certification is the mandatory baseline every program must meet, while Keystone STARS is the voluntary quality layer measured on top of it. Confirm a program's current certification and compliance history before you enroll.
Confirm the program's certification and compliance history with the Pennsylvania Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL), then ask about its current Keystone STARS level. Treat any rating as one verified data point alongside your own tour, because a rating can lag a program's real, day-to-day conditions, and unrated programs are not automatically weaker.
Keystone STARS does not set tuition, which each program decides on its own. Pennsylvania ties higher subsidy reimbursement to higher STAR levels, while the Child Care Works (CCW) subsidy program through the Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) helps eligible families pay, a structure the ACF Office of Child Care encourages under the federal Child Care and Development Fund. For national context, center-based care runs roughly $8,000 to $24,000 per year, per ChildCare Aware of America's 2024 Price of Child Care report.
For the full picture in your state, see the Pennsylvania daycare guide, which covers certification, subsidy, and pre-K. Our daycare quality and safety pillar explains accreditation, ratios, and what to look for on a tour.
Comparing how other states rate quality? Read our explainers on Grow NJ Kids, QUALITYstarsNY, and Maryland EXCELS.
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