The STAR project is a part of the California wide system known as CARES (Compensation Approaches to Raising Educational Standards) C.A.R.E.S began as a statewide initiative in 1996 as a response to the staffing crisis in the ECE field. Many counties designed programs to assist with the retention of ECE professionals, thus positively affecting the quality of care being provided to children 0-5 years. With input of many local ECE professionals, Santa Barbara County developed the STAR project - Stipends for Training and Retention to address the local retention needs. The project began in 2000 with the first stipend being distributed. Over the course of the past five years the STAR project has awarded over $1,800,00 dollars to over 998 center based and family childcare professionals in Santa Barbara County through funding from the local First 5 Children & Families Commission, state First Five Children & Families Commission and AB212 funds. You can see an overview of the funding by visiting our stipend facts (updated 5/05) page.

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The STAR award is distributed each year from funding received from the FIRST Five Children and Families Commission, Santa Barbara, FIRST Five California, and the California Department of Education. The specific deadline date varies each year and is listed on the application. Stipend checks are mailed to recipients in February and March of each year.

FY 05-06 applications will be available in October 2005.
Application Deadline: January 20, 2006

First Time Applicants
Entry Eligibility Requirements:
To be eligible to participate in the STAR project, new STAR applicants must fulfill the minimum entry eligibility requirements and return a signed Entry Eligibility Declaration Form by September 30, 2005.

Click here for First Time Entry Eligibility Declaration – First Time Applicants.

APPLICATIONS:

FY 05-06 STAR Application and cover sheet (English)
FY 05-06 STAR Application and cover sheet (Spanish)
To obtain an application that is identical to the application provided via mail, you must download the following attachments (requires Adobe Acrobat):
STAR Professional Developmental Activities Standards
Harms Clifford Rating Scale Self-Assessment Guidelines
Professional Growth Advisor Confirmation
STAR Quality Improvement Plan
Federal Form W-9 with Instructions
Federal Form W-9 Sample
Consent to Participate
Professional Growth Activity Form (Verification of Hours)
Rating Scale Score Sheet- ECERS
Rating Scale Score Sheet- ITERS
Rating Scale Score Sheet- FDCRS Rating Scale Score Sheet- SACRS


Mandatory First Time STAR Application Workshop
Mandatory First Time STAR Application Workshop (Spanish)
(Requires Adobe Acrobat Reader).

ANNUAL PARTICIPATION REQUIREMENT/OVERVIEW
Returning Applicants


Entry Eligibility Requirements:
To be eligible to participate in the STAR project, returning STAR applicants must show proof of fulfilling the minimum entry eligibility requirements and return a signed Entry Eligibility Declaration Form by September 30, 2005.

Click here for Returning Entry Eligibility Declaration
Click here for Returning Entry Eligibility Declaration (Spanish)

Click here for 2005 -2006 Center Based Annual Participation Requirements
Click here for 2005-2006 FCC Annual Participation Requirements
Click here for 2005-2006 FCC Annual Participation Requirements- Spanish


Child Development Permit Application Information:
Click here to go to the Riverside County page which links to the Permit Application Information.

Rating Scale Training Requirement:
Click here for upcoming Rating Scale Trainings – English
Click here for upcoming Rating Scale Trainings – Spanish
Click here for STAR Quality Improvement Plan
Click here for Environmental Rating Scale Summary of Findings
Desired Results

Professional Growth Advisor Information:
Click here to find a Professional Growth Advisor

Professional Growth Advisor Training:
Allan Hancock College: Contact Liz Regan for more information. 805-922-6966
Santa Barbara City College: Contact Kelly Lake for more info. 805-730-4450


Professional Growth Information:


Click here for a copy of the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing Professional Growth Plan and Record
See page 27 for the Professional Growth Plan and Record form.

Click here for copy of Verification of Hours Spent on Professional Growth Activity Form

First Time Applicants must complete all annual participation requirements prior to stipend award.

Annual Participation Workshops
Click here for Annual Participation Workshops

STAR Advisor Session

All applications must meet with a STAR Advisor. Call Office of Early Care & Education to arrange date & time, 739-8740, 560-1037.

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The Santa Barbara County STAR project in collaboration with UCSB and UC Berkley is participating in a local and statewide evaluation. First 5 California has contracted with PACE to provide a three year assessment of the effectiveness of the stipend system. The primary goal of the evaluation is to look at program designs and determine the impact that these programs have on staff retention and on-going professional development. The first reports are out and can be found at- pace.berkeley.edu/pace_eval_matching_funds.html. For specific data information about Santa Barbara County see www.caccwrc.org/research/pace/santabarbara.htm and www.caccwrc.org/cares/counties/santabarbara.htm also
www.caccwrc.org/cares/caresmap.htm

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