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Finding and accessing high quality child care can be a challenge for many parents. When selecting something as important as care and early education for your child, you deserve detailed and reliable information so that you can compare one program with another.
Hillsborough’s Quality Counts for Kids program was created to provide a consistent way for parents to distinguish the levels of quality in early education programs in Hillsborough County, allowing you to make more informed choices.
Early learning providers who participate in this completely voluntary program are provided with a pathway to continually improve the quality of their services. QCFK awards programs increasing ‘star level’ designations as their quality improves. But star level designations are only the beginning steps of the program’s process. After a program receives a star level designation, they are given tools and resources to improve their quality through mentoring and other assistance.
Participation and the award of continued star level designations reflect a program’s choice to raise the bar regarding their commitment to quality beyond basic licensing standards, expectations, and requirements.
A Hillsborough early care and education program with a QCFK star level designation:
- is on a planned, continuous quality improvement path
- distinguishes itself by exceeding basic required standards
- assures parents of its focus on producing a high quality experience for children
- reflects a culture of commitment to excellence among staff
The QCFK star level designation is a powerful consumer education tool informing you about quality as you consider options for your child’s earliest and most important learning experiences. So look for the QCFK Star Level Designation Certificate to take the guess work out of finding quality early education programs for your children. See if your provider is participating by viewing our list of participating programs (as of May 1, 2012).
FOR MORE DETAILED INFORMATION REGARDING QUALITY COUNTS FOR KIDS, DOWNLOAD OUR FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS.
- Defines standards for early childhood education
- Creates a framework of support and outreach for early childhood education professionals
- Provides incentives linked to achieving and maintaining quality standards
- Acts as a consumer education tool to improve the information that is available to Hillsborough’s families
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