Haslam to review child care rating system
Gov. Bill Haslam on Tuesday said he would review Tennessee's star quality rating system after an investigation by The Tennessean raised questions about health and safety violations inside child care centers that had earned the state's highest rating.
"Is the three-star system measuring only the services they offer and not necessarily the quality? In which case, is it the appropriate rating service? So I don’t really know. I haven’t had a chance to meet with (Department of Human Services) Commissioner (Raquel) Hatter to dig deep into that to really have an opinion about. She is looking at that, and we’ll meet in the next two or three days to review it."
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The newspaper's investigation revealed a pattern of problems at licensed child care centers where laws were broken, placing children's welfare at risk, but they continued to be rated at a two- or three-star level, considered the gold standard by many parents weighing child care choices.
The investigation also revealed multiple violations at child care centers that continue to be subsidized by taxpayers. Nineteen child care centers in Nashville received $10 million in taxpayer subsidies over a four-year period despite incidents that included a toddler who fell through an open vent into a basement 8 feet below, a caregiver testing positive for drug use and numerous lapses in supervision.
Oversight of child care centers falls to DHS, and Haslam said he planned to meet with Hatter about the ratings system.
"Commissioner Hatter and I had a brief conversation last night, and we’re going to meet again in the next couple days so I can dig in and understand better how the three-star system is," Haslam said.
DHS has said it is committed to child safety and is always looking for ways to improve the quality and safety of Tennessee's licensed child care facilities.
Reporter Jessica Bliss contributed to this report. Reach Anita Wadhwani at 615-259-8092 and on Twitter @AnitaWadhwani.