Overview
Why Quality Care?
Children's Services Council considers improving the quality of early care and education and afterschool programming of vital importance. Children who are ready to learn when they enter school are much more likely to be reading on grade level at the end of third grade and, in turn, much more likely to graudate high school. And children who attend high-quality afterschool programming develop important life skills while staying out of trouble during those afternoon hours.
With that in mind, the Council's strategy builds an integrated system of care so children thrive in and out of school.
CSC's Strategy
First and foremost, the Council's strategy aims to provide high-quality, affordable, accountable and inclusive early care and education programs so more children enter school ready to learn. This strategy also aims to ensure that school-age children have access to high-quality, affordable, accountable and inclusive afterschool programming. This kind of programming not only provides peace of mind to working parents, but also assists their children in developing the social, emotional and academic skills they need to succeed in life.
To accomplish these goals, the Quality Child Care and Afterschool Strategy works with partner agencies to: enhance the skills and knowledge of the quality child care and afterschool workforce; provide technical and financial assistance, as well as coaching and support, to participating programs; and increase public understanding of the value of quality early childhood education and afterschool programming.
For more information about Quality Counts for out-of-school providers, please click here.