A:  The total budget column is only for STARS incentive money.  The first time that you turn in a budget, the total column will be the same as the Budget column, which will be the amount for the STAR level you are requesting.  The next time you are turn in your budget with a STAR level application, the budget column will be the amount for the STAR level you are requesting, and the Total Budget will reflect this amount PLUS the amount you received previously, and so on.  The Total Budget column will always be the TOTAL amount of incentive money you have received and what you are requesting.

A:  STARS incentives are to be used for continuous quality improvement, staff support and salaries, professional development, equipment, etc. - anything that would assist a program in moving to the next level and maintaining the STAR level achieved. STARS incentives must be used in accord with an approved quality improvement plan. All incentives for the Best Beginnings STARS to Quality System, including STARS incentives and workforce incentives, are subject to eligibility requirements as outlined in policy and are dependent on funding.With quarterly payments, a program can choose to stay and maintain criteria at a certain STAR level for the year and receive quarterly installments each quarter, with proof of eligibility and a new budget and Quality Improvement Plan annually.  Or a program may choose to advance through the STAR levels and assure that they are meeting criteria of earlier STAR levels in addition to new criteria.  In this case, the program receives quarterly payments based on the STAR level they are awarded.  If, for example, a program moves from STAR 2 to STAR 3 within a quarter, the program would be eligible for the higher STAR 3 quarterly reimbursement and no longer the STAR 2 reimbursement on the next payment date.  So, as long as a program maintains or continues to advance in the system and meets all other criteria, a program can expect to receive an installment every quarter.  The higher the STAR level, the higher the quarterly amount.  Additionally, the higher the STAR level, the higher the % reimbursement for Best Beginnings Scholarship children. 

A:  Programs can apply for a STAR level at any point in time.  STAR’s will not be awarded earlier than January 2, 2011.  If a STAR level is awarded, incentives will become available the 1^st of the following quarter.  Please refer to the memo for further specifics.  The incentive amounts have not changed from the annual allotment per STAR level.  Rather, the payments will be available quarterly, so the annual amount has been divided by 4 to come up with quarterly amounts.  This is in reference to the incentive awards.  The % increase for Best Beginnings Scholarships (state paid child care) will be made monthly, but the adjustments will not occur based on STAR level until the 1^st of the following quarter, following the same payment schedule as indicated in the memo.  This means that even if a STAR level is awarded in January-March, the % change on reimbursements for child care will go into effect April, and will be made monthly after that, with the regular scholarship reimbursement check.  If a program moves to another STAR level within the next quarter, adjustments will be made again according to the schedule as outlined in the memo.

A:  The State will move someone into the incentive category from the non incentive category, maintaining geographical and facility type whenever possible.