The Ohio Department of Education recently announced that New Richmond Exempted Village School District’s preschool housed at Locust Corner Elementary School has earned the prestigious Five-Star Step Up To Quality Award.
Step Up To Quality is Ohio’s rating system for early learning and development programs. Participating in programs can earn a one to five-star rating. All preschool programs, both public and private are required to participate in this system.
Schools that earn a five-star rating go above and beyond minimum licensing standards. Star-rated programs lay the foundation for children’s early learning and development and build skills that are important for success in school and life.
“Our preschool staff put in a great deal of hard work to achieve that highest rating of five stars,” Principal Joseph Roach said. “Ultimately, the result means that we are providing a superior educational experience for our youngest learners. We are really proud that our preschool staff continues to provide that excellent safe and nurturing environment that NR Families have grown accustomed to having year after year.”
Programs that earn five-star ratings provide professional development opportunities for all staff members focused on the early learning and development standards and use formative assessment data to meet individual student needs, monitor student progress, and share information with families. Other important aspects include collaboration, self-assessment, and reflection for continuous improvement of the program.
The Step Up To Quality system has been in place for several years now and our classroom funding is tied to the rating system, Director of Student Services John Frye said. It is a monumental task to put together the evidence needed to show the quality of the program and the connections to partners, the community, and school-age programs.
“We are proud that the Early Childhood Preschool Classroom at Locust Corner Elementary is again rated with 5 stars,” he said. It is important to maintain the high rating in the Step Up To Quality system as the New Richmond Schools receive $120,000 from the Ohio Department of Education for the Early Childhood classes in the elementary schools.”
New Richmond has one more Early Childhood Preschool Classroom located at Monroe Elementary and recently accepted responsibility for the two integrated preschool programs in the district previously managed by the Clermont County Education Service Center. Those three classrooms will be subject to the Step Up To Quality rating system in the 2021-22 school year.
“We will be busy,” Mr. Frye added.