State Rolls Out Child Care Program Ratings
Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning
Georgia rolled its new voluntary ratings system for child care facilities in the state Monday.
Out of Georgia’s 6,000 licensed and registered childcare programs, about 20 percent have decided to participate in the new system. About 200 hundred of those have already received ratings. Bobby Cagle is Commissioner of Georgia’s Department of Early Care and Learning.
“Parents have a difficult time often in selecting the right child care program for their child. This system will allow them to know there is additional scrutiny applied to the facilities they’re considering. It also gives them an opportunity to look at the compliance and monitoring reports with regard to health and safety of the facilities over an extended period of time.
The ratings are based on criteria such as nutrition, physical activity, curriculum and how programs engage parents in the education of their children. Commissioner Cagle says programs can earn between one to three stars with one being the lowest and three being the highest. Programs have to receive a certain number of points to receive a rating. If they do not receive the required number of minimum points, they are not rated but are allowed to reapply.
“We’re looking to raise the level of quality in all early childhood education programs in the state of Georgia.”
Programs taking part in the system become eligible for technical assistance, free professional development, and financial incentives provided by foundations and businesses.
Cagle is hopeful the majority of the state’s childcare programs will participate in the system within five years. To view the ratings you can visit the Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning’s website or qualityrated.org.
9(MDAxODM0MDY4MDEyMTY4NDA3MzI3YjkzMw004))
Top Stories
