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Toot Toot!

I don't often toot my own horn professionally.  I work really hard to make the child care center I work at amazing for the children, families, and my staff.  I spend a lot of time at home reading about best practice.  I keep going back to school like some sort of glutton for punishment (though this latest adventure came without adding to the student loans so it was much welcomed).

The state of Illinois has recently launched ExceleRate Illinois, a Quality and Improvement Rating System.  Programs strive to earn a circle of quality (licensed, bronze, silver, or gold).  They claim it's not meant to encourage competition, but really?  You've named these circles after medals.  Who wants to be bronze?  I want(ed) gold, baby!  Programs who had participated in the previous program (QRS) or had NAEYC accreditation were grandfathered into ExceleRate with a provisional rating.  We were rocking the Gold provisional rating.

SO...

When the opportunity presented itself, I jumped into the paperwork pile and submitted everything necessary for the new program.  I spent hours assisting my staff with the application process so they could earn their credentials.  I made sure that everyone had the required training hours.  I set a deadline of June 30th (the original date on which the 'provisional' rating was set to expire).  I figured with my upcoming maternity leave, it would be a great way to go out.

Folks, I am going out with a BANG.

Our center was the FIRST in the STATE of Illinois to achieve the full-fledged Gold rating in the new ExceleRate program.  Woot. Woot.  I got a visit from the governor's office (though certainly took note that he himself was not here) and was presented with our framed certificate!  It was such a shock that we were the very first.  I am so excited!  Yesterday they announced that much like the QRS system, ExceleRate will be linked to incentive dollars.  So our little program here will be receiving a one-time bonus and then 15% added to our child care subsidies.  As such a small site (only 33 children), it's important to find these opportunities and run with them.

For more information about the ExceleRate Illinois program, visit their website here.
(They didn't sponsor this post but I figured some of you might like to read more about the new system)

Don't mind me, I'll just be over here, brushing the dirt off my shoulders...

xoxo

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