Our Qualifications

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The Center participates in the state-wide Keystone STARS initiative, a program targeted on improving the quality of child care centers throughout the Commonwealth. In the Pennsylvania Keystone Stars Program, there are 153 sites enrolled in Chester County and The West Chester Area Day Care is one of only 31 centers that are at a Star 2 level – only 17 others are above us at either a Star 3 or 4.

Our continuing participation in Keystone Stars demonstrates our commitment to continuous quality improvement in early learning and school age environments. We have once again achieved the high status of a Star 2 Center for the 2010 year. The Center initially earned Star 2 status in the summer of 2005. Our quality nonprofit center is on the exact same page as many other private, more expensive centers and families can see the tangible evidence to that effect.

What Does It Mean?

logo for Keystone STARS
video link to Keystone STARS Commercial
View STARS' video spot.

STARS stands for

  • S for Standards
  • T for Training/Professional Development
  • A for Assistance
  • R for Resources
  • S for Support

Find out more about Keystone STARS at their website. Or read (download a pdf) the brochure or el folleto.

What We Do

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  • Director and staff receive annual professional development and training.
  • One third of the staff has completed or are in the process of completing credentials or degrees. During the '07-'08 school year, we had two staff complete and/or enroll in the national childhood development associate program, and we had two teachers enroll in the TEACH scholarship college degree program.
  • Learning materials such as books, blocks, puzzles, music and art supplies are readily available.
  • The facility has a budget and provides at least one benefit to staff.
  • Some involvement of parents in the program
  • The Center maintains a plan to address needs found in a standardized self-assessment.

Learn More

Continuing Professional Education

Maintaining our Keystone STARS accreditation requires a commitment to continuing professional education for all staff members. Nine of our staff members either hold or are candidates for the Child Develoment Associate (CDA) credential, a nationally recognized program of training focused on meeting the specific needs of children and working with parents and other adults to nurture children's physical, social, emotional, and intellectual growth in a child development framework.

More about the CDA The CDA is a program of professional development that includes more than 120 hours of education spread over a variety of topics, including the following:

  1. Planning a safe, healthy, learning environment
  2. Steps to advance children's physical and intellectual development;
  3. Positive ways to support children's social and emotional development;
  4. Strategies to establish productive relationships with families;
  5. Strategies to manage an effective program operation;
  6. Maintaining a commitment to professionalism;
  7. Observing and recording children's behavior; and
  8. Principles of child development and learning.

 

Revised February 2010