While it is true that six of the 287 licensed family child care homes in Rochester have a four-star rating, what the article in the Feb. 22 Post-Bulletin under the headline "Legislators and educators talk pre-K" neglects to mention is that this rating system is completely optional.
Providers are not required to submit themselves to this rating system. Many providers who chose not to seek a star rating are providing excellent and quality care and sending children to kindergarten prepared.
As a provider with 15 years of experience, I have chosen not to spend hundreds of hours in additional training and hundreds of dollars seeking a star rating. My child care program is consistently full with a waiting list.
Submitting myself and my home to yet another regulatory agency would not increase my license capacity, would not decrease my incredibly low vacancy rate nor would it increase my income. The parents of the children in my care are more than satisfied with the care and readiness that their children receive.
Theresa Peplinski
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Rochester
