The Joliet Township Infant Childcare Center retained its Gold Circle of Quality designation from ExceleRate Illinois for the 2016-17 school year, the center announced earlier this month.
As the state’s quality rating and improvement system, ExceleRate issues quality designations based on rigorous standards for environmental quality and professional growth. Of approximately 590 licensed childcare centers in Will County, about 20 hold a Gold Circle of Quality designation.
“Our early childhood education professionals worked tirelessly to provide the best care and education for the families and children we serve,” said Debrah Clark, childcare director of the Joliet Township Infant Childcare Center. “Additionally, many returned to college and/or attended necessary professional development sessions in order to attain credentials through the Gateways to Opportunity system. I could not be more proud or in awe of the dedication level of the professionals working with our families.”
ExceleRate Illinois is administered through the Illinois Network of Childcare Resource and Referral Agencies, which are under the joint direction of the Governor’s office of Early Childhood Development, the Illinois Department of Human Services and the Illinois State Board of Education.
The mission of the JTHS infant Childcare Center is to engage, support and maintain attendance of young parents during high school completion, strengthen their parenting skills and knowledge of resources, support the healthy development and exploration of young children in a safe environment, and be a passionate model of best practices in the early childhood community.