Learn & Grow in Your Child’s Program

For families, choosing an early childhood education program is an important decision. Families are looking for quality environments that foster learning, promote child development and support a child’s unique skills and culture. Learn & Grow allows families to better evaluate child care options and helps them to choose a high quality program for their children.

Programs who have achieved Level 1 of Learn & Grow means the program is:

• learning about quality and has just begun to develop a quality improvement process plan

Programs who have achieved Level 2 of Learn & Grow means the program has:

• completed specific training for teachers and the administrators
• begun to make improvements in their indoor and outdoor learning environments beyond basic health and safety requirements
• begun to assess the program’s family engagement practices and learn how to further partner with families

Programs who have achieved Level 3 means the program has:

• enhanced policies and practices to support all children including children with special needs.
• researched and identified curriculum and child assessment tools to use
• Begun to use developmental and social emotional screening tools to help monitor children’s development
• completed training for teachers and administrators to support use of curriculum, child assessment, understanding implicit bias and culturally responsive practices
• developed and begun to implement policies and practices to support children’s social emotional development and reduce exclusionary practices
• developed policies and aligned resources to support professional development opportunities for staff to advance their careers
• worked with a trained early childhood coach and set aside time for teachers to plan
• provided opportunities for parents to participate in their child’s learning experiences and ensuring families have access to supports and resources

Programs who have achieved Level 4 means the program has:

• used curriculum and child assessment to inform development of culturally responsive and inclusive lesson plans.
• worked with early childhood coaches and EC mental health specialist (when needed) to ensure all children in the program can successfully engage with their peers and the learning environment
• provided opportunities for families and staff to provide input on program instruction and embed cultural activities that represent their family
• set aside funding and resources to help teachers continue their educational advancement
• developed multiple opportunities for families to connect with other families, learn about child development, be involved in their child’s learning, and be connected to community resources

Programs who have achieved Level 5 means that programs has:

• financial resources to maintain all quality activities associated with levels 1-4
• acquired own internal early childhood coaches to assist teachers with lesson plans and any individualization to meet all children’s needs
• embedded a continuous quality improvement philosophy and practices culture in their program