All 12 of the Summit Educational Service Center’s preschool program sites recently received a five-star Step Up to Quality rating from the state.
The rating recognizes the highest level of quality in educational programming, with evaluation in staff-to-student ratio, level of administrative qualification, completion of additional specialized staff training and flexibility and development of lesson plans, according to a news release.
The Step Up to Quality program is a voluntary quality rating system administered by the state’s Department of Education and the Department of Job and Family Services.
Summit ESC preschools are located at the Newberry School in the Cuyahoga Falls school district; Indian Trail Elementary School in Stow-Munroe Falls schools; Woodridge Primary, Maplewood apartments and Honey Locust apartments in Woodridge; David Bacon School in Tallmadge; Herberich Elementary in Copley-Fairlawn; Ledgeview Elementary in Nordonia Hills; Coventry Elementary in Coventry Local; Suffield Elementary in Field Local; O.H. Somers Elementary in Mogadore; and Manchester Church of Christ in Manchester Local.
Summit ESC’s preschool program serves children ages 3 to 5 within a site’s school district in an integrated setting, with a focus on typically developing peers, financially at-risk families and children with special education needs. The program also offers programming for children with autism (First Start) and hearing loss (T.A.L.K.), both of which are at Newberry.
There is no cost for children who are identified as preschoolers with a disability. All students who have individual education plans (IEPs) attend for free. Children who attend as peer models pay a sliding scale fee based on household income.
Registration for Summit ESC’s preschool programs for students without special needs will begin in February. If a child is selected for a peer spot, he or she is asked to attend a screening and registration open house April 19.
Parents of students on an IEP or who have concerns related to their child’s development should contact Brandie Kresowaty, preschool secretary, at 330-945-5600. For more information on the program or to register, visit www.SummitESC.org.