Community Child Care

Early Head Start

Head Start

PEEK

Child Care Information Services

Employer Services

Locations

Contact Us

Home

Lewistown and Taylor Park Children's Centers

Receive Keystone STAR's Recognition

Snyder, Union, Mifflin Child Development is proud to announce that both of their Mifflin County child care sites have achieved STAR Three designation from Keystone STARS. Keystone STARS is Pennsylvania's voluntary program for improving the quality of child care. The Lewistown Children's Center and the Taylor Park Children's Center (in Reedsville) have both achieved this distinction.

While reflecting on the achievement, Shirley Zeiders, Assistant Coordinator with SUMCD stated "The star 3 process was a lot of hard work and quite a challenge, but our team pulled together to meet the standards. We are all proud of this accomplishment. We can continue to provide the community with a high quality program because of this team effort." Shirley and the rest of SUMCD's Mifflin County child care management team were recently recognized for leading the charge toward this goal. Pictured with Shirley is Michelle Russell (School Age Child Care Program Coordinator), Kathy Nace (Head Teacher and On Site Director of the Taylor Park center), Teresa Gipe and Leslie Sheaffer, (both Head Teachers at the Lewistown center).

Through Keystone STARS, a team of child care providers work to increase the standard of care above the state's minimum health and safety licensing regulations. Research shows that quality child care increases a child's learning skills and school readiness level. SUMCD's goal is to provide the best child care possible, and Keystone STARS provides Standards, Training, Assistance, Resources, and Supports (STARS) to help meet this goal.

STARS establishes a quality rating system beginning with the Start With STARS level, and progressing from a STAR One to a STAR Four designation. Each STAR designation has its own researched-based performance standards in three areas: staff education, the learning environment and administration. As a center moves from START with STARS up to STAR Four, the standards in these three areas increase. A STAR Four designation is similar to meeting accreditation standards set by the National Association for the Education of Young children (NAEYC).

For more information about Keystone STARS, visit the www.pakeys.org website. For further information about SUMCD's programs for young children and families, visit www.sumcd.org or call SUMCD's Mifflin County office at the Lewistown Children's Center 1-717-242-3032

Our Proud Team
[ Employees Only | Check Web Mail ]