Children of Hope Child Development Center, an outreach ministry of Esperanza, has achieved a Highest Quality rating of 5 stars from Quality First.
Quality First, a signature program of First Things First, partners with regulated child care and preschool providers to improve the quality of early learning across Arizona. Research has shown that children with access to high-quality early learning programs are better prepared for kindergarten, do better in school, and are more likely to graduate from high school and go on to college.
“At no other time in a child’s life does the brain grow more. The interactions in these important early years literally build a child’s brain,” said Preschool Director Lynn Hockenberger. “By attaining a 5-star rating, the families of children in our care will know that their children are getting the highest quality early education they need to arrive at kindergarten prepared to meet our state’s expectations.”
Quality First participating providers work with a coach to assess their programs and implement quality improvement plans in areas that research shows help young children thrive. Programs are rated on a 5-star scale based on how well they meet quality standards. A rating of 5 stars means the program far exceeds those standards.
The areas assessed include:
- Health and safety practices that promote children’s basic well-being
- Staff qualifications, including experience working with infants, toddlers, and preschoolers, as well as training or college coursework in early childhood development and education
- Teacher-child interactions that are positive and consistent, nurturing healthy development and learning
- Learning environments, including age-appropriate books, toys, and learning materials that promote emotional, social, language, and cognitive development
- Lessons that follow state requirements or recommendations for infants, toddlers and preschoolers
- Group sizes that give young children the individual attention they need
- Child assessment and parent communication that keeps families regularly informed of their child’s development
About Quality First: A signature program of First Things First, Quality First partners with regulated early childhood providers to make quality improvements that research proves help children from birth to age 5 thrive. These include education for teachers to expand their expertise in working with young children. Quality First also supports parents with information about what to look for in quality early childhood programs that goes beyond health and safety to include a nurturing environment that supports their child’s learning.
About First Things First: First Things First is a voter-created, statewide organization that funds early education and health programs to help children be successful once they enter kindergarten. Decisions about how those funds are spent are made by local councils staffed by community volunteers. To learn more, visit azftf.gov.
