Licensing and Accreditation
IL DCFS Licensing
The ECC is state licensed by the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services. Our license representative visits the center annually with a licensing renewal visit every three years in November. Here is link to the Illinois DCFS Licensing Standards for Child Care Centers.
NAEYC Accreditation
A number of research reports conclude that high quality early childhood experiences have long-term positive developmental and economic effects. ECC was initially accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) in 1993. Our program ID# is 287729; we were most recently re-accredited in April 2018 through May 1, 2023.
NAEYC is a voluntary accreditation process driven by ten program standards that include over 400 quality indicators, accomplished through evidence-driven reporting, an on-site visit, and evaluation of program materials by the Academy in Washington, DC. Accreditation is a multi-step process, which gives the program time to:- reflect on the standards
- involve all program stakeholders in self-study
- document qualifications of staff
- prepare portfolio narratives and supporting evidence for each classroom and the program as a whole.
The NAEYC process is rigorous; while there are over 7000 accredited programs world-wide, only a handful of programs in the metro east area are currently accredited. Once a program becomes accredited, status is maintained by review of annual reports, and the program begins the five-year re-accreditation cycle again.
We believe our mission as a demonstration school demands we provide a program of the highest possible quality; engaging in the NAEYC accreditation provides us the opportunity to regularly examine our practices in the context of current research on how to best support families and the early childhood learning process. As a resource for our community and part of a public institution of higher education, we are also committed to sharing resources that may help other programs in their efforts to provide high quality early childhood education.For more information about NAEYC.
Illinois ExceleRate
ExceleRate Illinois (formerly Illinois Quality Rating System QRS) is a statewide quality recognition and improvement system designed to make continuous quality improvement an everyday priority among early learning providers. The ECC was initially rated by the Illinois Quality rating system (QRS) in 2010 earning a 4 STAR rating (one of only 8 centers in Illinois). In 2013 our program transitioned to the ExceleRate program earning a Gold circle of Quality.
ExceleRate Illinois also recognizes early learning providers for their ongoing efforts to improve the quality of their care by awarding Circle of Quality designations:
- The Licensed Circle of Quality tells you that the program meets state licensing standards for quality. It is the foundation for quality.
- The Bronze Circle of Quality recognizes the qualifications of program staff. It tells you that the program has completed ExceleRate Illinois trainings, have met qualifications and are engaged in continuous quality improvement.
- The Silver Circle of Quality recognizes that the program has met quality goals. Silver Circle programs meet or go beyond quality standards in three areas: learning environment and teaching quality; administrative standards; and training & education. Programs are actively engaged in continuous quality improvement.
- The Gold Circle of Quality recognizes programs that meet or go beyond the highest quality goals. Gold Circle programs have met the highest quality standards in three areas: learning environment and teaching quality; administrative standards; and training & education. Programs are actively engaged in continuous quality improvement.
Every early learning provider who participates in ExceleRate Illinois makes quality a priority. But the higher the awarded designation, the more each provider makes meaningful improvements to their program that better prepare children for school and life.
