Head Start Centers Renew 5-Star Ratings

posted 6/8/18 -- LCCAA Head Start directly operates five centers that have all received a Five-Star Rating from Ohio’s Step Up to Quality program.

Jennifer Bartlebaugh, Education and Disabilities Specialist said the rating “validates the commitment LCCAA has to ensure all children, no matter of economic status should have access to high quality early childhood experiences.”

Centers at Hopkins-Locke in Lorain, Wellington Head Start and Cascade in Elyria have all just had their Five-Star rating renewed. Licensing and accompanying Five-Star rating for the Center at CDC in Amherst will transfer to the new classrooms at Firelands Elementary School this fall.

The Five-Star rating brought to the new Elyria Head Start center on Griswold Road from Hamilton Elementary School was also renewed.

“Step Up to Quality is a way to tell parents and the community that we are meeting higher program standards that exceed licensing health and safety regulations,” Bartlebaugh said. “By age 3 a child’s brain is 85 percent developed. The early years of a child’s life are crucial in providing play experiences, language development, exposure to new opportunities, social interactions and fostering the love of learning.”

Higher Step Up to Quality ratings are given to programs employing teachers with more training as well as enhanced parent, family and community engagement. All of LCCAA’s directly operated classrooms have two teachers with degrees.

Step Up to Quality has been voluntary; however, beginning in 2020, all early childhood programs must be rated or they will be ineligible for public funds.