Tennessee's Star-Quality Program, explained.

Tennessee's Star-Quality Program is a voluntary daycare quality rating that awards licensed programs up to 3 stars based on an annual assessment, where more stars reflect higher measured quality. Because it is voluntary, a licensed Tennessee program can operate without earning stars — so an unstarred program is not automatically weaker.

If you are comparing daycares in Tennessee and you see a star rating, this guide explains what it measures, who licenses programs, how to confirm it, and how it connects to cost and subsidy. The aim is to help you treat the stars as one input, not the whole decision. The Star-Quality Program is run by the Tennessee Department of Human Services (TDHS), inside the broader structure the federal Administration for Children and Families (ACF) Office of Child Care sets for every state's quality system.

What is the Star-Quality Program?

The Star-Quality Program is Tennessee's voluntary quality rating, awarding licensed programs up to 3 stars based on an annual assessment, where more stars reflect higher measured quality. It is run by the Tennessee Department of Human Services (TDHS), per the State of Tennessee and the federal ACF Office of Child Care. Participation is voluntary, so a program can hold a current license and run a strong classroom without earning stars.

A quality rating system does two jobs at once. It rates programs so families have a common yardstick, and it improves programs by tying stars to assessment and resources. Tennessee also publishes an annual Report Card summarizing each participating program's assessment, built with support from the federal Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) administered by the ACF Office of Child Care.

Who runs and licenses daycare in Tennessee?

Licensing is the mandatory floor that every program must clear: the Tennessee Department of Human Services (TDHS) licenses child care programs. The Star-Quality Program is the voluntary rating measured on top of that floor, and the same agency runs both. The table below separates the labels you will run into while you compare programs.

Because the Star-Quality Program is voluntary, you will see star ratings on some Tennessee programs and not others — so confirm the current license status and any compliance history first, then read the star rating as a bonus signal where it exists.

How do I check a Tennessee daycare's star level or license?

Start with the license: confirm the program's status with the Tennessee Department of Human Services (TDHS) and review any compliance history. Then look at the Star-Quality rating and the most recent Report Card. Treat any rating as one verified data point alongside your own visit, because a rating can lag what a classroom is actually like by a year or more.

1. Confirm the license. Check the program's license status and recent compliance history with the Tennessee Department of Human Services (TDHS).
2. Read the stars and Report Card. Ask the program for its current Star-Quality rating, its latest Report Card, and what it is doing to maintain or raise it.
3. Tour anyway. A rating cannot tell you whether this teacher, on a Monday morning, is warm and attentive. Visit, watch a drop-off, and ask about staff turnover.

How does a Star-Quality rating affect cost and subsidy?

The Star-Quality Program does not set tuition, which each program decides on its own. But in Tennessee, the state ties higher subsidy reimbursement to higher star ratings, while the Child Care Certificate Program through the Tennessee Department of Human Services (TDHS) 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 Tennessee-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 Certificate Program through the Tennessee Department of Human Services (TDHS) is the place to start.

Common questions

Where to go next

For the full picture in your state, see the Tennessee daycare guide, which covers licensing, 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 Kentucky All STARS, Quality Rated in Georgia, and North Carolina's Star Rated License.