PEARCY, Ark. — CSO Head Start and Early Head Start at Lake Hamilton in Pearcy have achieved a commendable 4-star rating in Arkansas Better Beginnings, a statewide initiative dedicated to elevating the quality of early care and education programs. These programs, including Lake Hamilton, undergo a rigorous 1-6 Stars rating system, with each level requiring specific professional development and assessment criteria for attainment.

At Levels 4, 5, and 6, the facility must meet or exceed the requirements for the specific level and all preceding levels. For each of these advanced levels, the facility:

– Meets or exceeds the required higher score on a rating of the quality of administrative procedures.
– Meets or exceeds the required higher score on a rating of the quality of the program’s classroom environment and children’s activities.
– Decreases the staff-to-child ratio.
– Continues to complete self-assessments and create action plans related to the facility’s policies on health and wellness for children.

At Level 4, administrators at Lake Hamilton actively develop new ideas to strengthen partnerships with families, showcasing a dedication to continuous improvement.

Arkansas Better Beginnings, established in 1993, stemmed from a state legislative bill empowering the Division of Child Care and Early Childhood Education to institute a certification system for licensed child care and early childhood education entities. The primary goal is to assure Arkansas families that certified providers consistently offer care environments exceeding minimum licensing requirements.

Better Beginnings operates as a guiding framework, aiding programs in enhancing daily environments for children and implementing proven administrative practices. For more information, visit Arkansas Better Beginnings.