Oklahoma child care providers must meet new national accreditation rules

Major changes are underway for child care providers in Oklahoma as new state standards now require all programs to obtain nationally recognized accreditation. Without it, providers could lose access to vital state funding.

Oklahoma Human Services and the Oklahoma Partnership for School Readiness (OPSR) are working together to help programs meet these new benchmarks, offering support and revised rules to aid in the transition.

A Shift in Quality Standards

In 2022, Oklahoma expanded its child care quality rating system from three stars to five, but national accreditation was not initially required. That’s changing.

As of April 10, accreditation by a national organization is now a mandatory part of the rating process. That means an external reviewer must evaluate whether a provider meets the appropriate standard for early childhood education.

Support and Flexibility for Providers

Recognizing that not all child care professionals could meet the standard immediately, OPSR and lawmakers worked to create a more manageable transition.

Carrie Williams with OPSR said extending the deadline was crucial to helping providers adapt.

“We knew that accreditation is the gold standard,” Williams said. “But we also wanted to give childcare professionals the opportunity in a realistic way to achieve that standard, so the extension of the deadline was really helpful for childcare providers.”

To help with the transition, Oklahoma Human Services said $500,000 of federal Preschool Development Grant funds will assist programs that are working towards accreditation to help cover self-study kits and accreditation related materials. The money will also provide access to hands-on support through regional Child Care Resource and Referral (CCRR) offices.

New Deadline and Extension Options

Providers now have until June 20 to obtain national accreditation. Those who do not meet the deadline will be lowered to a two-star rating, which can impact both their public reputation and financial support from the state.

In some cases, providers can submit requests for additional time to complete the accreditation process.

DEADLINES:

1. April 10, 2025: Original deadline for national accreditation
2. June 20, 2025: New deadline to submit proof of either application for accreditation or achieved accreditation
3. September 1, 2025: Deadline for full national accreditation
4. September 12, 2025: Deadline to request extension to obtain full national accreditation
5. December 31, 2025: Extension deadline for providers who demonstrate substantial and verifiable progress toward accreditation
6. After December 31, 2025: Extension for providers who demonstrate they have completed all necessary steps toward accreditation. Extension pending final decision by accrediting body.

In a statement from Oklahoma Human Services, the organization addresses the new deadlines, saying:

"Oklahoma Human Services has extended the accreditation deadline for five-star child care programs to June 20, 2025, to provide additional time and support for providers working toward national accreditation.

"Programs that demonstrate progress but need more time may request an extension through December 31, 2025. These requests will be evaluated based on documented progress, licensing compliance history, and other key factors.

"These changes reflect our commitment to helping providers succeed while ensuring that Oklahoma families continue to have access to high-quality, early care and education.

"Our team members, including QRIS (Quality Rating and Improvement System) Outreach Specialists, are available to support providers throughout this process."

What’s at Stake

Dropping to a two-star rating comes with consequences. According to OPSR, lower-rated providers receive reduced financial support from Oklahoma Human Services, making accreditation not only a quality goal—but a financial necessity.

Learn More

Click here to learn more about the updated emergency rules.

To apply for OPSR's accreditation support, visit okschoolreadiness.org/teachers-lounge.