Ohio Step Up to Quality

Step Up To Quality is Ohio's quality rating system for licensed child care programs, and for home daycare providers who accept state subsidies, it's not optional. You need an active SUTQ rating to receive Publicly Funded Child Care payments, and the tier you achieve directly determines how much you get paid per child.

The Three-Tier System

SUTQ recently moved from a five-star scale to a simpler three-tier system: Bronze, Silver, and Gold. Each tier carries a percentage-based payment enhancement above your county's base PFCC reimbursement rate:

• Bronze: 10% payment enhancement
• Silver: 15% payment enhancement
• Gold: 25% payment enhancement

Those percentages compound meaningfully across a full enrollment. A Type B provider caring for six subsidized children at Bronze rates earns noticeably more per month than the same provider without an SUTQ rating, and the jump from Bronze to Gold can add hundreds of dollars monthly.

What Each Tier Requires

Bronze is the entry point. You need to implement a state-approved curriculum aligned with Ohio's Early Learning and Development Standards and the Science of Reading framework. Staff complete additional professional development hours annually. You'll also need to maintain a continuous improvement plan with at least two goals and complete an annual self-assessment.

Silver adds developmental screening — specifically, you administer a tool like the Ages and Stages Questionnaire (ASQ) within 60 days of each child's enrollment and share results with parents within 30 days. Formal child assessments happen twice per year. Your improvement plan expands to three goals and must incorporate feedback from both staff and families.

Gold requires everything from Bronze and Silver, plus using assessment data to actively adjust your daily instruction. At least 40% of your groups must operate at lower-than-standard ratios (infants at 2:10, toddlers at 1:6, preschoolers at 1:11 instead of the baseline). You also need to host at least two family educational workshops per year and establish formal community partnerships for children with identified needs.

How to Register

SUTQ registration happens through the OCLQS portal — the same system where you apply for your license. You can register for SUTQ during your provisional licensing period, and many providers do so immediately to start receiving enhanced payments as soon as possible.

After registration, the DCY assigns your initial rating based on your submitted documentation. Rated programs undergo periodic desk reviews and on-site verification visits to confirm they're meeting the requirements of their current tier.

The Business Case for Moving Up

The difference between Bronze and Gold isn't just prestige — it's material revenue. For a Type B provider with six subsidized children, the gap between a 10% enhancement and a 25% enhancement represents hundreds of additional dollars per month.

Gold requirements are demanding, especially the ratio reduction. Operating at a 1:6 toddler ratio when the standard allows 1:7 means you're either serving fewer children or investing in more classroom hours. Whether the enhancement revenue offsets that depends on your county's base rates and your enrollment mix.

For providers just launching, the practical path is to earn Bronze immediately, stabilize your enrollment and operations over the first year, then pursue Silver as your documentation systems mature. Gold is a longer-term target that makes the most financial sense once you have consistent full enrollment and reliable staffing.

Losing Your Rating

SUTQ ratings can be reduced or removed. If you accumulate 24 or more non-compliance points during inspections within a 12-month period, the DCY can strip your rating entirely. Even without that threshold, a failed verification visit can result in a downgrade if you're not meeting the requirements of your current tier.

Losing your rating doesn't automatically revoke your license, but it does cut off your PFCC payment enhancements and can make it harder to attract subsidy-eligible families who filter by quality rating.

For a complete walkthrough of the licensing-to-SUTQ pipeline — including how to time your registration, documentation templates, and the improvement plan format the DCY expects — see our Ohio Home Daycare License guide.

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