GREENSBORO – The Lakeview Early Education Center became a 5 STAR (Step Ahead Recognition System) program on March 10, wrote the center’s Director Bethany “Beth” Parker in the Mid-March Lakeview Newsletter.
“Over the February break I spent a couple of days gathering all the evidence to apply for 5
STARS (we previously had 3 STARS due to the newness of our program). During this process I
was able to collect data from each classroom to support our application.”
STARS is Vermont’s Quality Recognition and Improvement System (QRIS) for child-care, preschool and afterschool programs. Head Start programs are automatically 5 STAR programs due to their federal monitoring guidelines.
“Even with our collaboration, we still needed to go through the application process,” said Parker. The 5 STAR rating “is the highest rating given by the [Vermont] Child Development Division for day care and preschool centers. Lakeview began last school year with a basic provisional 3 STAR rating because we met all the required criteria and regulations.”
The rating system is based upon goal setting, delivery of instruction and evidence-based practices used in tandem with documentation and assessment of children’s growth and development while enrolled in the program.
“The area Head Start program has had a 5 STAR rating for the last several years as a quality program. Because of the Head Start and Lakeview partnership, we have been able to achieve this distinction,” said Parker.
The Lakeview Early Education program was granted Universal pre-K status last fall, allowing children to access programming there from other towns for which the district will receive tuition.
