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Kentucky’s Office of Early Childhood Launches Online Training Program

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Early childhood professionals in Kentucky now have access to a free online resource to help improve their understanding of child development.

Kentucky’s Office of Early Childhood is preparing for the launch of its child care STARS rating system later this year.

Child care centers that accept families using state subsidies must have employees that meet certain benchmarks to earn their stars.

Office of Early Childhood Executive Director Terry Tolan says this new online tool is the first of many more to come that will help professionals improve their skills.

“It is designed to increase awareness and basic understanding of the early childhood standards, what they signify and what their impact is on the professionals work," Tolan said.

Tolan says this training is essential to the STARS rating system and will help improve early childhood education across the state.

Freelance reporter and producer Devin Katayama has joined WFPL News as a general assignment reporter. His hiring is the third addition to the newsroom since March and is part of Louisville Public Media’s strategic plan to fill the growing void in local news.