FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Here for You Jackson media contact:

Autaum Hollinger, Director of Media Relations, 202-400-0894
Ohios 3-Star Quality Rating Issued to Here for You Jackson,
Stars to Arrive at Child Development Center.
(NORTH CANTON,OH)October 26, 2014. Here For You Jackson received a 3-star
rating from the Ohios Step Up to Quality program, a quality rating and improvement
system for licensed learning and development programs.
Here for You Jacksons daycare staff has been working on the rating for the last year.
The school will receive its banner of stars at 9:30 a.m, Oct. 31, 2014. Staff, families and
the children enrolled at Here For You Jackson will be in attendance for this special event.
Step Up to Quality is a rating system that signifies quality infant, toddler and preschool
care and education. This system gives parents a tool to make informed choices when
deciding on childcare for their child.
Early learning and development programs that participate in the Step Up to Quality
program can earn a 1-, 2-, 3-, 4- or 5-star rating by meeting quality standards. These
standards include lower child to teacher ratios, higher educated teachers, school readiness
skills, enrollment and specialized training, focus on family engagement and a
commitment to continuous improvement.
Melissa Depasquale, director at Here for You Jackson said, I always compare Step Up to
Quality to the star rating system for hotels. If a hotel is a 3-4 star hotel, you know they
go above and beyond minimum requirements. Its the same for this. We have a huge
book of licensing rules we have to follow, but when you get star rated, it shows you are
going beyond whats required and taking steps to have a top quality program.
The newest 3-Star award brings Here For Yous inventory of Step Up to Quality awards
to two of its three centers. Measures are in place for the Canal Fulton location to begin
the process to receive Step Up to Quality rating.
As centers get more stars, child to teacher ratios start to lower, which means more small
group and one on one time for the children. Centers also receive a quality achievement
award each time they earn a star rating or renew their rating. The amount is based on
factors such as enrollment and how many enrollees are on public assistance.
The Step Up to Quality program can also mandate a certain amount of your award to go
towards specific categories such as employee bonuses or raises, classroom supplies,
furniture or art supplies. Being star rated offers many benefits for the children
Depasquale said, All of our teachers are required to have 20 hours of training. Because
of this they are constantly reviewing and learning new information. By taking all of these

steps and going above and beyond on certain requirements helps create and maintain a
quality program.
In order to qualify for the Three-Star Step Up to Quality rating, HFY had to meet certain
requirements:

Lower staff/child ratios

Infants/Toddlers
0-12 months- 1:4 or 2:8 or 3:10
12-18 months- 1:5
18-36 months- 1:6
Preschoolers
36-48 months- 1:10
48-60 months- 1:10
Family or Mixed Age Groups
0-36 months- 1:4
36-60 months- 1:10
School-Agers
5-15 years- 1:15

Higher education qualifications. The administrator/director and 50 percent of lead

teachers have an associates degree or equivalent. All teachers at HFY Jackson
have an Associate of Art or Bachelor of Art in education or related field.
Twenty hours of specialized training every two years.
A quality improvement plan that is completed and implemented based on a
Program Administration Scale (PAS) self-assessment, classroom assessments and
input from parents and staff and updated annually.
The Human Resource development administrator and all teachers must have an
annual professional development plan that at a minimum includes a performance
appraisal, goals, and a plan for completing specialized training.
Must offer at least three of the following: Salary structure based on education and
length of employment, employer offers and/or pays a portion of health insurance;
five days of paid leave; paid professional membership; Education benefits;
retirement; discount on child care.
Commitment to building relationships with families and the community.

Here For You has 3 locations in Jackson Township, Canal Fulton and Manchester. Here
for You was established in 2008. HFY Jackson is located at 7641 Wales Ave. NW and is
open Monday through Friday, 7 a.m.- 6 p.m. Here for You accepts Title XX and private
pay. Each center offers before and after school care.
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