This evaluation assesses the progress of the Steps to Excellence Program (STEP) toward two major short-term outcomes and a third long-term outcome: (1) Participating child care providers increase their understanding of quality child care practices,(2) providers implement high-quality practices in their programs, and (3) child care providers develop a culture of continuous quality improvement. Through STEP participation, child care providers are offered training, coaching, financial resources, information, and guidance toward achieving these outcomes. The evaluation is designed to obtain data about participants' experiences with the STEP program and the value and impact of the resources provided. The evaluation also assesses how their participation in STEP has impacted their efforts to improve the quality of child care services they provide, the benefits of STEP participation, and the extent to which STEP values are endorsed by providers. (author abstract)