About STARS/MERIT
All School’s Out Washington workshops are STARS-approved. Washington STARS/MERIT requires all licensed family child care providers and licensed child care center school-age directors, program supervisors, site coordinators and lead teachers to complete professional development trainings each year.
For newly-hired child care providers in these categories, a 20-hour basic training is required in the first six months of licensing or hire date. School’s Out offers a special school-age-focused 20-hour training at least three times a year. Other agencies and community colleges offer other 20-hour basic training statewide and you can use MERIT to check for trainers and trainings in your area.
Licensed family child care providers, licensed center and school-age directors, program supervisors, site coordinators and lead teachers are also required to take at least ten hours of continuing education each year after meeting the 20-hour basic training requirement. Our professional development opportunities count towards that requirement.
If you are a director or program supervisor, five of the ten hours each year must be in the area of administration. All others may choose training in any of the eleven STARS competency areas. The ten-hour requirement starts the calendar year after the year in which you should have completed the 20-hour basic training requirement. If you are unsure of when you need to take the ten hours of continuing education, contact your licensor.
Questions about MERIT and its professional development requirements, provider profile forms, or scholarship information should be addressed to the Washington Department of Early Learning. The STARS/MERIT system continues to change so please check that site regularly.