

| Childhood is the most beautiful of all life's seasons. ~Author Unknown |
| When Love and Skill Come Together...Expect MIRACLES! |
About "Step Up To Quality": Ohio's Quality-Rating System Step Up To Quality was created by the Ohio Department of Job & Family Services - Bureau of Child Care and Development to improve the quality of child care in Ohio. Step Up To Quality is a voluntary rating system for early care and education centers in Ohio. Participating centers earn a one, two or three star rating by meeting an extensive list of quality benchmarks that exceed licensing standards. Experts say these benchmarks improve the growth and development potential of children. The rating system also provides a useful tool for selecting quality early childhood programs. These benchmarks include low child-to-staff ratios, group size, accreditation, staff education, specialized training, improved workplace characteristics and early learning standards. Child care programs participating in Step Up To Quality demonstrate a commitment toward providing quality care and education. Parents can use the rating system to gain an understanding of the factors that contribute to quality care and education, and they can then choose a child care setting that best matches their family's needs. In Hamilton County and across Ohio, Step Up To Quality, a voluntary quality rating system, is providing a variety of supports to licensed early childhood programs to ramp up the quality of programs offered to young children. Licensing is now the minimum indicator of healthy and safety standards as we begin to improve the quality of care in our community. |

| We are a Two Star Rated Step Up to Quality Childcare and Education Program!!! Little Miracles Child Development Center is pleased to announce that is has been awarded Two Stars in the Step Up To Quality program from the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services, Bureau of Child Care and Development. This is a significant award, given "in recognition of excellence and an ongoing commitment to children. When you select Little Miracles Child Development Center you can have confidence that your child is enrolled in an early care and education program whose level of quality exceeds Ohio’s child care licensing standards. High quality early care and education settings are important because early experiences last a lifetime. Your child has 1,892 days from the day they are born until they enter kindergarten. What happens on this journey lays the foundation for school and life success. A Step Up To Quality Two Star rated program means that your child is in a program with:
This means the teachers have more time to support your baby's individual development and learning. This is important because 85% of brain development occurs by the time your child is three years old and the number of words your child knows when they enter kindergarten is the single most important predictor of school success.
This means that the administrator and teacher(s) have formal knowledge to support your child's development and learning. This is important because just like a doctor needs formal education, so do those working with young children. Working with young children is science - brain science.
This means that the administrator and teaching staff are committed to expanding their knowledge and skills to better support your child's development and learning. This ensures that early care and education professionals keep up to date with the ever changing knowledge base of their profession.
This means that the program is a place where employees are supported and treated professionally. This is important because good programs retain good teachers.
planning. This means that your child's program uses research based information when planning your child's day. This is important because it means teachers are intentional in planning their teaching strategies in order to support your child's development and learning. Step Up To Quality programs are only eligible for a Star Rating if they have not had any serious risk licensing non-compliances at their last licensing visit. |
