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Winter lends itself to all sorts of exciting ways to explore the outdoors. We all know it can be a trick to get all of the children ready to go outside, but that too can become a wonderful learning experience, and a necessary step in getting fresh air throughout the year. One of the ways we support programs enrolled in QUALITYstarsNY is to brainstorm how to implement program changes that enhance children’s development. We understand the great importance of daily outdoor play, but are also aware of the numerous hurdles that make this a challenge. Sometimes reframing and planning can make a difficult task more manageable. Here are some things to consider when planning outdoor winter play for children:
QUALITYstarsNY partners with Children's Institute as our independent assessment team to conduct Environmental Rating Scale (ERS) observations for eligible programs the rating process. Learn more about Children's Institute and the ways our partnership promotes high quality early childhood education in New York State.
Wellsville Early Learning Center is located in Allegany County in Western New York. As a new program, it can be hard to meet all the staffing, administration, and operational needs a child care center requires to run smoothly. When juggling a range of responsibilities, it can be hard to [...]
Jump for Success is a Group Family Day Care located in the Bronx, NYC. High-quality furnishings and learning materials are important to create an inclusive, safe, and inviting environment for children to play, learn, and grow. These materials and equipment stimulate learning and inspire children to interact with the environment around [...]
Our team traveled from across New York State to meet in-person at Borough of Manhattan Community College. QUALITYstarsNY has been expanding rapidly due to the commitment New York State made in QUALITYstarsNY through the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA). In October, for the first time in [...]
Kerion Scarlett of Corlies Christian Child Care had the pleasure of meeting with First Lady Dr. Jill Biden during her visit to DAY ONE Learning Community in Poughkeepsie, NY. Kerion Scarlett is a graduate of DAY ONE's Teacher Apprenticeship Program (TAP). The TAP is an intensive, full-time eleven week apprenticeship program [...]
On September 25, the Military Child Care in Your Neighborhood-PLUS (MCCYN-PLUS) program launched in New York State to increase the availability of child care options for the state’s military families. MCCYN-PLUS extends eligibility for the federal military child care fee assistance program to all licensed/registered child care programs in New York State.
QUALITYstarsNY had a conversation with Carmelina Myers, Education Program Director at Country Children Center, Inc. in Katonah, NY In addition to receiving the "Hall of Heroes" award this year, Carmelina has also been the 2017 recipient of the Cathryn A. Riley Leadership Fund Scholarship and was accepted into the Leadership Westchester (LW) [...]
On January 26, the Institute’s Executive Director Dona Anderson testified on behalf of QUALITYstarsNY at a public hearing of the New York State Senate Committee on Children and Families focused on New York’s child care crisis. The testimony highlighted the impact of QUALITYstarsNY, its proven model of continuous quality improvement, and its role in safeguarding the quality of New York’s early childhood System.
QUALITYstarsNY sat down with Stephen Madey, Director of Pelham Children's Center. Stephen Madey received the Child Care Council of Westchester’s “Early Education Hall of Heroes Award”. This hall of fame recognizes individuals who have helped advance early care and education in the Westchester community. Stephen has been the director of PCC since [...]