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Child Care Assistance Program Policy Manual Issued 08/2021 Higher rates for quality – Parent Aware Rated providers 9.24.12 Highly-rated child care and early education programs participating in Parent Aware Ratings are eligible for higher rates for quality: • Providers with a Three-Star Parent Aware Rating are eligible for up to 15 percent above the standard maximum rate, not to exceed the provider charge. • Providers with a Four-Star Parent Aware Rating are eligible for up to 20 percent above the standard maximum rate, not to exceed the provider charge. Providers may be accredited by an approved organization or hold an approved credential and have a Three- or Four-Star Parent Aware Rating. See Chapter 9.24.9 (Higher rates for quality – Accreditation/Credential). • Three-Star Parent Aware Rated providers that hold an approved accreditation/credential are eligible for up to 15 percent above the standard maximum rate, not to exceed the provider charge. • Four-Star Parent Aware Rated providers that hold an approved accreditation/credential are eligible for up to 20 percent above the standard maximum rate, not to exceed the provider charge. See Chapter 9.24.3 (Child Care Rates, Registration Fees, Copayments) for links to the maximum rates tables. Parent Aware is Minnesota’s Child Care Quality Rating and Improvement System. For more information about Parent Aware, visit www.parentaware.org or call (888) 291-9811. Effective date of higher rates for quality CCAP agencies cannot enter or update Parent Aware Ratings. CCAP agencies do not need to obtain verification of a provider’s Parent Aware Rating. If a provider reports that they have a Parent Aware Rating that is not reflected in MEC², contact your policy specialist for assistance. For providers that obtain a Three- or Four-Star Parent Aware Rating, the effective date of the higher rate is the Monday following the week that the Parent Aware Rating is awarded. When a rating is changed through reconsideration, the effective date of the higher rate is the Monday following the week that the Parent Aware Rating reconsideration is approved. Legal authority Minnesota Statutes 119B.13, subd. 3b