Licking Heights Central Preschool receives 5-star rating from state of Ohio

Special to Pataskala Standard
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Eileen Good and her son Jack participate in a Family Literacy Night at Licking Heights Central Preschool, which recently earned a five-star Step Up to Quality rating from the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services. This is the highest rating a preschool can earn.
Eileen Good and her son Jack participate in a Family Literacy Night at Licking Heights Central Preschool, which recently earned a five-star Step Up to Quality rating from the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services. This is the highest rating a preschool can earn.

Licking Heights Local Schools announced that Central Preschool has received a five-star Step Up to Quality (SUTQ) rating from the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS).

SUTQ ratings are monitored and administered by both ODJFS and the Ohio Department of Education. According to the ODJFS website, "SUTQ recognizes and promotes learning and development programs that meet quality program standards that exceed licensing health and safety regulations. The program standards are based on national research identifying standards which lead to improved outcomes for children."

To receive a five-star rating, learning and development centers have to meet SUTQ requirements such as:

  • Having more staff members available per child.

  • Employing administrators and teachers with a bachelor’s degree or higher.

  • Ensuring administrators and teachers complete more than 20 hours of specialized training every two years.

  • Developing lesson plans that support each child’s growth.

  • Completing staff assessments to evaluate and improve student learning experiences.

  • Valuing the voice of families and the surrounding community.

  • Supporting and valuing employees by offering benefits such as health insurance, paid leave, tuition reimbursement, paid planning time and more.

"A strong preschool education has lifelong impacts for a child. I am exceedingly proud of our preschool team for this statewide recognition and accomplishment," said Kevin Miller, superintendent of Licking Heights Local Schools. "A five-star rating is not easy to earn, and doing so is due to the work of the administrators, teachers and aides who are leading our preschool and investing in our students each day in the classroom."

Central Preschool is a partnership program between Licking Heights Local Schools and the West Licking County Family YMCA. Along with educating the general student population, the program serves and provides early intervention programs for students with special needs.

The district’s preschool program was previously located at North Elementary, where it also earned a five-star rating.

Information submitted by Licking Heights Local Schools.

This article originally appeared on Newark Advocate: Licking Heights Central Preschool receives 5-star rating from state