Today’s Child Learning Centers, is proud to announce that several facilities it operates in the Southeast Delco School District have attained a PA Keystone STARS Level 4 certification. Level 4 is the highest level a childcare center can reach. Two other centers reached a STAR 3 certification.

Delcroft School Center Director Nia Gamble said of the news, “I’m very happy and excited that all the hard work put in by all of our staff paid off, and that its being recognized by the early childhood community.”

Today’s Child Centers at the Delcroft School, at the Darby Township School and at the Sharon Hill Regional Head Start all were designated at STAR Level 4.

Level 4 certification carries with it heavy requirements, including more professional development hours than any other level; two-thirds of staff having completed or are enrolled in a degree or certification program; activities occurring naturally throughout the day are designed to encourage communication, both written and verbal. Parental and community resources should be used effectively in the delivery of childcare. Business, organizational and staff compensation practices are maximized and the facility is reviewed by a nationally recognized environmental rating scale that indicates a high-quality score.

High-quality Pre-K education and programs like Keystone STARS are of high importance to Delaware County where, in some areas, more than 40% of the population live below the poverty line. High-quality Pre-K programs have also been shown to increase graduation rates, raise GPAs, and lower the rate of grade retention. For every dollar spent on Pre-K education, the Commonwealth can expect to see a projected return of up to sixteen dollars.

 National research demonstrates that children with high-quality pre-K experiences enter kindergarten with better reading, language, math, cognitive, and social skills than those without pre-K. This is especially important in the areas where TCLC operates, serving some of the most high-risk students in Delaware County.

The designation process is a long one, with multiple inspections and designation visits from STARS officials. This group’s journey to STAR 4 took approximately 9 months. Over that period, the Commonwealth was constantly checking in on what the centers were doing in all aspects of their operation.

Helene Calabro said, “We knew our staff are all of the highest quality, now STARS recognizes it too.” This continues a tradition of quality childcare for the company, now in its 20th year. Today’s Child also has STAR 4 facilities at Sharon Hill School, 4th and Main Sts. in Colwyn, PA and 723 Secane Ave. in Primos, PA.

Today’s Child has been a participant in the Keystone STARS program since the program began.

Gamble continued, “Even though we’ve gotten this new designation, we’re going to keep providing the same high-quality of care we always have.”

TCLC was also pleased to receive a designation of STAR 3 for its centers at the Kindergarten Center and the Margaret B. Harris School in the Southeast Delco School District. STAR 3 also carries with it a wide breadth of requirements, with a similar mix to STAR 4 in terms of experience, education and facility review.

Christine Peterson, Director of the Kindergarten Center, said, “I’m very happy to hear that we hit STAR 3 here, and now I’m excited to start working towards STAR 4.”