Photos of recent 4C Prize Patrol stops

4C Recognizes Quality-Rated Child Care Centers
Parents: Check if your child is in a star-rated program!

CINCINNATI (April 17, 2008)—The 4C for Children "Prize Patrol" is helping the State of Ohio recognize the best early childhood education programs in Southwest Ohio and the Miami Valley. One recent stop was at the Miami University Child Development Center in Oxford, the recipient of a two-star Step Up To Quality rating.

A Step Up To Quality star rating means a center has gone above and beyond Ohio's licensing standards. This means lower child-to-staff ratios, more highly qualified teachers and greater attention to a child's developmental needs. 4C, this area's child care resource and referral agency, encourages all centers in its 23-county service area to pursue a star rating-and then provides technical assistance for meeting the various benchmarks required at each level.

"As 90 percent of brain development happens before the age of five, the care a child receives in these early years is vitally important," says Sallie Westheimer, 4C's executive director. "Ensuring that child care settings offer quality learning environments is a matter of great public importance, and 4C helps child care providers give every child a positive experience and a foundation for success in school and life."

Establishing benchmarks for assuring quality care is the goal of Step Up To Quality, a program administered by the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services—Bureau of Child Care and Development. According to ODJFS, 65 percent of Ohio children under the age of six have both parents in the workforce. In addition, the state reports that children enrolled in high quality learning programs, particularly low-income children, are more likely to stay in school, attend college, earn more money and be employed in high-skilled jobs than their peers.

"It is a significant achievement for a center to be awarded a Step Up To Quality star rating as it requires meeting and maintaining high standards in multiple areas," said Kim Ginn, 4C's Step Up To Quality coordinator. "4C is here to help administrators and teachers complete the professional development registry and evidence portfolio needed to demonstrate they meet these high benchmarks."

"4C hopes that all parents with children in early care and education settings will ask their program administrators whether they've achieved a star rating or are working toward one," says Ginn.

Ginn emphasizes that many centers may not put in the time and effort until parents show their awareness of the ratings. "Every center with a star rating should proudly display the official award-winning banner and poster to let families know of their significant achievement."

Parents can check to see if their center has earned a star rating by visiting www.stepuptoquality.org. Here, administrators and parents can also access a listing of criteria and next steps to earn this award. Center owners and directors can also contact 4C for no-cost support in "reaching for the stars" by calling 513-221-0033 for more information.

The voluntary four-star quality-rating system in Kentucky is called STARS for KIDS NOW. Call 4C Northern Kentucky at 859-781-3511 for more information.

4C serves a 23-county area in Southwest Ohio, the Miami Valley and Northern Kentucky. Funding is provided in part by United Way, the City of Cincinnati, the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services and the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services, Division of Child Care. Visit www.4CforChildren.org or call 513-221-0033 for more information.

For more information, photos or to schedule an interview, contact Amy Gorga, 4C Communications Coordinator, at (513) 758-1310 or agorga@4cforchildren.org.