Arcola Elementary School just received the Gold Circle of Quality for their preschool program. Gold is the highest rating possible!!! A big “Congratulations” goes out to all of our preschool staff members for their dedication to early learning and improving the program.
Once every 3 years, each Preschool for All/Preschool for All Expansion (PFA/PFAE) program goes through a comprehensive evaluation process conducted by the Illinois State Board of Education that include monitoring visits where assessors collect evidence using the Early Childhood Environmental Rating Scale-Third Edition (ECERS-3) and the ISBE Compliance Checklist. Each program site is awarded an ExceleRate Circle of Quality based on its Compliance and ECERS-3 scores ExceleRate unifies all the state’s early learning programs under a common set of standards across multiple settings to provide families with important information about quality early learning programs in their community.
ExceleRate Illinois is anchored by a set of standards that focus on early learning and development and places a high priority on instructional excellence, family services, staff qualifications, professional development, and program administration. Central to its design is the recognition of multiple forms of evidence to meet the universal standards.
To learn more about ExceleRate Illinois, including the specific requirements for each Circle of Quality, visit www.excelerateillinois.com.