Lewis Children’s Center is committed to providing the highest quality childcare to benefit the children and families of Central Virginia. As part of its efforts, the Center is a partner in the Virginia Star Quality Rating Improvement Initiative.

The Virginia Star Quality Rating Improvement Initiative (Smart Beginnings) is a partnership between the Virginia Office of Early Childhood Development and the Virginia Early Childhood Foundation. The Initiative’s purpose is to provide a consistent way to distinguish the level of quality in early education programs, allowing parents to make informed decisions. Early learning childcare centers who participate in the voluntary program are provided a way and given the tools to continually improve the quality of their services. Programs were rated in four categories:

  1. Education, qualifications, and training of staff
  2. The quality of staff to child interactions
  3. Structure of the program and ratios
  4. Classroom environment and instruction

Programs are rated on a scale from one star to five stars that build upon one another in order to support continuous quality improvement.

The Lewis Children’s Center was among one of the first programs in the State of Virginia to participate in the State’s initiative.

The Center is committed to reaching a five-star level. The Center’s management has put in place goals and objectives to ensure the Center receives a five star quality rating. The next Smart Beginnings rating will be in the Fall of 2010.

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