Island Kiddie Kampus has achieved the Enhancing Quality – Validated Quality Level through Great Start to Quality, Michigan’s quality recognition and improvement system for licensed early care and education programs.
Great Start to Quality supports child care providers in continually evaluating and strengthening the quality of care and early learning they provide. Programs reflect on their practices using research-based Quality Indicators, establish goals for continued improvement, and have opportunities for coaching, validation, and on-site observation.
At the Enhancing Quality – Validated level, documentation and supporting evidence submitted by the program are reviewed through the Great Start to Quality Validation process to verify high-quality practices. The results are made available to families through the program’s public Great Start to Quality profile.
Great Start to Quality currently evaluates program practices through 40 Quality Indicators across five areas:
- Family and Community Partnerships – Building meaningful relationships with families and connecting them with resources that support their children.
- Inclusive Practices – Supporting individual needs, family cultures, diversity, home languages, and opportunities for all children to succeed.
- Curriculum, Instruction, and Learning Environment – Providing intentional learning experiences and environments that support children’s development.
- Professional Development – Supporting ongoing learning and professional growth for early childhood educators.
- Staff Qualifications – Recognizing the education, credentials, experience, and qualifications of the professionals caring for and teaching children.