The QCC County Program Profile provides county data from the Common Data File (CDF) and the Annual Progress Report (APR). For counties that are a part of a consortium, the QCC County Program Profile provides a combined view of the CDF and APR. Both qualitative and quantitative data are presented to provide a local view of early learning and care climate.

Kern County’s voluntary Quality Rating and Improvement System, Kern Early Stars, serves state-funded child development centers, private child development centers, and family child care providers in Kern County and is administered by the Kern County Superintendent of Schools. Since July 2015, more than 183 sites have been rated or received support to improve quality. Kern Early Stars has three levels of participation and measures several elements of program quality including:

1. Child Development and School Readiness
2. Teachers and Teaching
3. Program and Environment

• CSPP
• Infant Toddler and Migrant QRIS
• IMPACT

• Consortium Members
• Community Connection for Child Care / Resource & Referral
• Local School Districts – Arvin School District, Bakersfield City School District, Delano Union Elementary School District, Edison School District, Greenfield School District
• Community Action Partnership of Kern
• First 5 Kern
• Bakersfield Homeless Center’s Discovery Depot
• Kern County Superintendent of Schools – Migrant Education
• Kern County Superintendent of Schools – Early Childhood Education
• Bakersfield College, Taft College, Bakersfield Adult School
• California State University, Bakersfield Children’s Center

Kern Early Stars recruitment opportunities are offered via email, word of mouth, and community meetings. Applications are reviewed and accepted in May, with a letter of acceptance to follow.

Kern Early Stars (KES) has implemented a two-year “onboarding” option, in which the participant attends four or five training sessions within a one-year time span. The trainings cover the components of each of the elements of the Rating Matrix. The site is assigned a coach, who works directly with the participants. It has been found that this process better prepares participants for the continuous improvement journey and the rating process.

The local approach to offering financial incentives and stipends includes a stipend based on the tier rating. Other incentives include personalized coaching, numerous community resources and linkages, and a variety of high-quality training opportunities.

Learn more from the videos below:

Kern Early Stars Spanish Video

Kern Early Stars English Video