Champaign Unit 4 Schools is proud to announce that the Champaign Early Childhood Center has earned the Gold Circle of Quality through ExceleRate Illinois, the state's quality recognition and improvement system for early learning and development programs.
The Gold Circle of Quality is the highest recognition awarded through ExceleRate Illinois and reflects the district's commitment to providing high-quality early childhood education that prepares young learners for future success.
Administered by the Illinois Department of Early Childhood (IDEC), ExceleRate Illinois establishes a common set of standards across the state's early learning and development programs, helping families identify high-quality preschool options in their communities. The system evaluates programs on instructional excellence, family engagement, staff qualifications, professional development, learning environments, and program administration.
The Champaign Early Childhood Center received the Gold Circle of Quality following its most recent Preschool for All/Preschool for All Expansion (PFA/PFAE) monitoring visit. During the evaluation, assessors reviewed the program using the Early Childhood Environment Rating Scale–Third Edition (ECERS-3) and the Illinois State Board of Education Compliance Checklist. Programs are awarded a Circle of Quality based on their performance across these comprehensive measures.
Families interested in learning more about ExceleRate Illinois and its Circle of Quality standards can visit www.excelerateillinois.com.