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Commission hears local concerns about DHS 5‑star changes, fast‑track accreditation and Head Start funding

3220888 · May 2, 2025
AI-Generated Content: All content on this page was generated by AI to highlight key points from the meeting. For complete details and context, we recommend watching the full video. so we can fix them.

Summary

Commission members heard that Oklahoma Department of Human Services’ 5‑star designations and accelerated accreditation timelines are prompting closures and stress among local child‑care providers; members were directed to consider letters supporting Head Start and related bills.

Members of the Tulsa Women’s Commission discussed recent changes to child‑care accreditation and state funding that, speakers said, are creating pressure on local providers and could reduce capacity.

Maria Palacios, director of Early Learning Works by Tulsa Educare, told commissioners that the Department of Human Services gave multiple providers five‑star ratings and then set an accreditation deadline requiring National Association for Family Child Care (NAFCC) accreditation to retain five‑star status. “They have a fast track of doing that, but that requires a lot of stuff,”…

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