Little Miami Preschool Earns Five Star Rating
Once again, the Little Miami Preschool Program has received the highest possible rating from the state of Ohio: The Five-Star Step Up to Quality award from the Ohio Department of Children and Youth.
Step Up To Quality (SUTQ) is a five-star quality rating and improvement system administered by the Ohio Department of Education and the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services. SUTQ recognizes and promotes learning and development programs that meet quality program standards that exceed licensing health and safety regulations. The program standards are based on national research identifying standards that lead to improved outcomes for children.
An Educational Specialist from DCY conducted an extensive on-site visit last week and awarded LMECC a 5-star rating for the second time. These visits entail reviewing binders and documents to ensure staff are highly trained and committed to continuous improvement. That differentiation is embedded in lesson plans, to name a few. The licensing agent made many positive comments about how the program operates, the organization, the goals that are individualized to student outcomes, and the interactions that were witnessed as part of the observations.
Research confirms that the first five years of a child’s life directly impact how children develop emotional well-being, learning, and social skills. Erin Losey, Preschool Director, said, "It is an honor to witness children's growth and development over the year. I am so proud of the preschool staff for laying a great foundation for their students and building strong relationships with families."
Little Miami currently serves 120 preschoolers in morning and afternoon classes. The program operates on an 8:8 model, which means that eight special-needs preschoolers share a classroom with eight of their typically developing peers, offering both groups the benefits of an inclusive setting.
If you would like to learn more about Step Up To Quality.
To learn the one through five-star rating system, see this brochure.
