Programs and Services

Accreditation & Commitment to Quality

Since 2004 the Capital Area Children's Center (CACC) has been accredited by both the National Association for the Education for Young Children and Keystone Stars.

Exceptional Marks from NAEYC

NAEYC has established a stringent set of over 600 criteria covering 10 program standards critical to quality early childhood programs. These early childhood program standards are:

• Relationships
• Curriculum
• Teaching
• Assessment of Child Progress
• Health
• Teachers
• Families
• Community Relationships
• Physical Environment
• Leadership and Management

Keystone STARS

Keystone STARS is a quality rating system devised and administered through the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s Office of Child Development and Early Learning. It has four STAR levels. Each STAR designation has its own research-based performance standards. These standards measure three areas that make a difference in the quality of care and education that your child receives: the staff employed; the environment your child is in every day; and the way a facility runs their business. At a Keystone STARS Facility you can count on:

• A Department of Public Welfare Certificate of Compliance
• A comfortable place where your child can explore and learn
• Laughing, reading, and talking to build good language skills
• Teachers learning new ways to help your child succeed
• A safe, healthy and exciting place
• Music, art, science, and play activities that increase school readiness
• Your child feeling good about his/her self
• Family involvement
• Teachers that listen to children and parents
• Children having fun together and being respectful of each other

CACC has been recognized as a STAR Level Four program since the inception of the Keystone STARS system. Requirements for STAR Level Four recognition include:

• Extensive (24 hours per year) professional development and training hours for every staff member
• Two thirds of the staff completed or are enrolled in credentials or degrees
• Activities designed to encourage communication, both written and verbal, occur naturally in the day
• Parental and community resources used effectively in the delivery of quality child care
• Business, organizational and staff compensation practices are maximized
• A review of the facility using a nationally recognized environmental rating scale that indicates a high quality score

  For more information about Accreditation & Commitment to Quality, please contact UCP at (717) 975-0611 or send an e-mail.

  http://www.ucpcentralpa.org
  Updated: 09/27/2009