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.
• As of December 2012, 22 centers in the Roanoke Valley have been star rated and several more programs are in the process of becoming star rated.
• Across the state of Virginia, over 400 programs have received a star rating since 2009.
• All programs that receive a star rating are going above and beyond basic licensing standards!
• VSQI programs are now impacting close to 1500 children in the Roanoke Valley.
• SBGR provides all VSQI programs with 16-32 hours of free on-site mentoring and training for staff each year, to ensure that the staff at VSQI programs are trained in best practices for teaching young children.
• New programs are being added each year, 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

Children in high quality child care settings are more successful in school and life, so choosing a preschool, child care program, or family child care home is one of the most important decisions parents and families can make. By selecting a program with a star rating, you can be confident that your child is in good hands!

LOOKING FOR QUALITY PROGRAMS?

• View an interactive MAP of star rated sites in the Roanoke Valley.
• Search for Star Rated Sites by city, zip code or type of program
• Download our 2012 VSQI brochure: What to look for in quality childcare and preschool facilities

The four standards of the VSQI—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.

 Cozy Reading area in a preschool classroom

The VSQI program is available to any early learning environment working with children between the ages of zero and five and is currently open to the following types of early learning settings:

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

Pre-K classroom interest areas at St. Johns Head Start. 

 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

Science area in a preschool classroom at Small Steps Learning Academy