Star Sites in Roanoke

Smart Beginnings congratulates the Roanoke Valley's Star Rated Centers:

Their participation in this voluntary rating system for childcare centers speaks volumes about their commitment to providing quality early experiences for our youngest citizens. 

The following sites are scheduled to be rated in 2012

  • Grandin Court Baptist Preschool
  • Thrasher Preschool
  • Parkway Preschool
  • Belmont Child Development Center
  • Landsdown Child Development Center
  • Tiny Tots Learning Center
  • Children's Castle Early Learning Center

Star Quality Sites are located throughout the state of Virginia. For other locations and for specific ratings information, visit www.smartbeginnings.org/QRIS

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School Readiness Skills

What do children really need to learn to be ready for school? 

pdfFoundation Blocks - Virginia's Early Learning Standards for 4 year olds

foundation blocks

 See Also - pdfVirginia's Milestones for Child Development (Birth-5)

Why Does Quality Matter?

Studies have shown that the quality of childcare does have an affect on a child's future development.

View examples of quality early learning environments by following SBGR on Pinterest Logo 

Video Library

For More Information...

SQI in Greater Roanoke please contact Kris Meyers at 540.777.4211.

Statewide implementation of the Virginia Star Quality initiative

Interested in joining the Star Qualitity Initiative?

To participate in the Virginia Star Quality Initiative, please complete the
VSQI Program Application
and send to: 
Kris Meyers, Program Manager

Virginia’s Star Quality Initiative (VSQI)

Smart Beginnings Greater Roanoke is proud to be one of fifteen localities across the state implementing Virginia’s Quality Rating and Improvement System (VSQI)

  • In 2009, four centers received the very first star ratings in Roanoke.
  • In 2011, ten centers have received a star rating in Roanoke, and 6 more are scheduled to be rated in 2011-2012. 
  • VSQI programs are now impacting nearly 1000 children in the Roanoke Valley.  
  • Across the state of Virginia, over 390 programs have received a star rating.
  • All programs that receive a star rating are going above and beyond basic liscensing standards!
  • New programs are being added all the time, please call 540-777-4211 to find out how your center can participate in the VSQI.

WHY DOES QUALITY MATTER?  Download PDF about The Virginia Star Quality Initiative 

Virginia’s Star Quality Initiative(VQSI), a product of the Alignment Project, is a voluntary quality rating and improvement system designed to assess and improve the quality of care and education children are receiving in early leaning environments across the state. It uses licensing as a foundation and sets a continuum of clearly defined Star levels of increasing quality. Virginia’s Star Quality Initiative provides programs a roadmap for continuous quality improvement, while participation also gives programs the positive community recognition they deserve for their continued dedication to achieving higher standards and improving quality.

LOOKING FOR QUALITY PROGRAMS?

The four standards of the SQI—education, qualifications and training; interactions; staff to child ratio and group size; and learning environment and instructional practices —have indicators that must be achieved for each Star rating.  These standards and indicators have been selected as a result of a thorough review of the research literature and best practices in other states.  A strong body of research suggests that early care and education programs that focus on improving in ways aligned with these four standards yield positive outcomes for children. 

Virginia’s Quality Rating and Improvement System (QRIS)This program is available to any early learning environment working with children between the ages of zero and five. Currently, the VSQI is available for the following types of early learning settings: 

  • School-based
  • Faith-based
  • Head Start
  • For-profit
  • Non-profit

Participating early learning sites are rated in the following areas:

  • Education, qualifications and training of staff
  • Interactions between children, teachers and peers
  • Staff to child ratios and group size
  • Environment and instructional practices
 
“A wonderful program that any new parent should take advantage of.”

Joanna Smith