References

REFERENCES

"We're very pleased with the education our daughter has received at Columbia Heights! The thematic units are very diverse ranging from family to environmental awareness. The teachers focus instruction on the whole child, taking into consideration the social and emotional aspects of learning. The teachers are fantastic. We highly recommend Columbia Heights!"

Dottie Flanagan
Parent and Educator

"Columbia Heights United Methodist Pre-School has been perfect for my son. The small classes have helped him to learn important social skills in a secure environment. The curriculum includes the right mix of play and pre-academic activities to give my son a solid foundation for school success."

Diane Hockman
MA Elementary Teacher

"I have had all four of my children attend Columbia Heights Pre-School. I have always been very pleased with the teachers they have had and also with their teaching skills. I believe a good Pre-School program helps a child all through their school. I also seek advice from the teachers, and their advice has helped me to be a better parent. I would highly recommend Columbia Heights to any one who wants their child to have great early childhood education."

Beth Harper
Parent of four children, all of whom have attended Columbia Heights Pre-School

"I would like to take this opportunity to express my sincere gratitude to the wonderful Pre-School experience my two daughters, Sarah and Laura have had at Columbia Heights Pre-School. It's hard to believe four years have passed since Sarah began in the 3 year old class. I can't say enough about the teachers at Columbia Heights Pre-School. Your professionalism and love for the children really shows. The teachers constantly communicate with each parent to let us know what is going on in class. We were invited to attend a class whenever we wanted. The girls were always excited and happy about their activities in class. The activities are well planned and age appropriate. The muscle room was always one of the girls favorite activities. I have recommended Columbia Heights Pre-School to many people through the years and will happily continue to do so. Thanks again for your love and devotion to the education of all children at Columbia Heights Pre-School."

Brenda Ribble
Parent of two children, both of whom have attended Columbia Heights

One-Star Award Release

Colulmbia Heights Preschool Wins State Award for Excellence in Early Care and Education

In recognition of its excellent child care program and its ongoing commitment to children, Columbia Heights Preschool has received a One-Star Step Up To Quality Award from the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services - Bureau of Child Care and Development, the state agency responsible for licensing and promoting high standards among Ohio's child care centers.

Columbia Heights Preschool provides a higher standard of care that exceeds Ohio's licensing standards. This translates to more teachers, a greater commitment to in-service training and a more nurturing environment for children to grow and develop, said Terrie Hare, Chief, Ohio Bureau of Child Care and Development. This outstanding commitment to children and early learning is why Columbia Heights has earned our One-Star award.

Step Up To Quality is a voluntary rating system for early care and education centers. Participating centers can earn a one, two or three-star rating by meeting an extensive list of quality benchmarks. Experts say these benchmarks improve the growth and development potential of children. The rating system also gives parents a useful tool for selecting quality early childhood programs.

One-Star Step Up To Quality Centers meet the following criteria:

A ratio of one teacher for every five infants (ages birth - 12 months), one teacher for every seven toddlers (ages 12-28 months), two teachers for every 11 toddlers (ages 18-36 months), one teacher for every 11 preschoolers (ages36-48 months), one teacher for every 13 preschoolers (48-60 months), one teacher for every 17 school-aged children (ages 5-11 years) and one teacher for every 19 school-aged children (ages 11-15 years).
Teachers participate in four hours of child development training per year, above licensing requirements.
To reduce staff turnover, the center provides at least one employee benefit to staff members.
Teachers are familiar with Ohio's Early Learning Content Standards and are trained to prepare children for kindergarten.

"Columbia Heights is proud to be a One-Star center. We know that learning begins the moment babies open their eyes. Because of that, we are committed to high-quality care and education. Thank you Ohio for this recognition and thanks to our staff for their outstanding work with children." said Jerinel Maynard, Administrator.

Achieving these benchmarks is crucial for the future of Ohio's children. This as more parents join the workforce and more children are cared for outside of the home. In Ohio, 65% of children under the age of six have both parents in the workforce. At the same time 90% of brain development occurs before the age of five.

Children enrolled in high quality early learning programs, particularly low income children, are more likely to stay in school, attend college, earn more money and be employed in high-skilled jobs than their peers.

The Ohio Department of Job and Family Services- Bureau of Child Care and Development is currently piloting Step Up To Quality in nine counties.