Congratulations to the Early Education Center for obtaining the highest recognition provided to early childhood programs by the state of Illinois, the Award of Excellence!
In May, administration and staff from the EEC were honored with the Award of Excellence for Preschool Teaching and Learning. This prestigious award signifies that RLAS-116's Preschool Program utilizes research-based practices to implement the highest teaching for our youngest learners.
Awards of Excellence are given by ExceleRate Illinois, a state program designed to help early childhood educators make continuous and quality improvements to their programs and establishes standards for helping preschool age children develop intellectually, physically, socially and emotionally.
This year only 6% of gold rated preschool programs attained this award. An early learning program can begin to achieve the Awards of Excellence only after it has obtained the Gold Circle of Quality recognition. All school-based preschool programs in the state of Illinois are ranked in a circle of quality based on meeting or exceeding standards. These circles range from Licensed, Bronze, Silver and Gold. The EEC earned the Gold Circle of Quality in 2015.