State of Ohio Licensing

The UC Early Learning Center is licensed by the State of Ohio Department of Human Services for 149 children total. In addition to the State of Ohio licensing the center also voluntarily participates in two quality initiatives.

The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC)

• NAEYC is a voluntary professionally sponsored accreditation system for schools and childcare centers. The program looks at a variety of criteria  such as teacher qualifications, staff to child ratio, educational curriculum etc.   The center has been accredited through NAEYC since 1993.  For further information go to www.naeyc.org

Step Up to Quality( State of Ohio)

• This is a voluntary program within the state of Ohio in which early learning centers can receive one, two,or three stars based on different criteria. Some of the criteria that is observed is teacher education level, continuing education,educational curriculum and staff to child ratios. UC Early Learning Center is a Three Star Center.  For further information go to http://jfs.ohio.gov/cdc/stepUPQuality.stm

Classroom Ratios are:

1 adult for every 4 infants                      1 adult for every 10 preschoolers

1 adult for every 5 toddlers                   1 adult for every 15 school-agers

Accredited programs offer:

• frequent, positive warm interactions among adults and children
  
• planned learning activities appropriate to children's age and development, such as block building, painting, reading stories, dress up, active outdoor play
• specially trained teachers
• enough adults to respond to individual children
  
• many varied age approperiate toys and materials
  
• a healthy safe environment
  
• nutritious meals and snacks
  
• regualr communication with parents
• effective administration
  
• ongoing, systematic evaluation