Cincinnati State to host July 25th forum to help preschool providers meet staff education requirements for Preschool Promise

Published on July 18, 2017

Cincinnati State Technical and Community College’s Early Childhood Education Program will host a free information session and discussion for directors of preschools that want to participate in Cincinnati Preschool Promise, but may need help in reaching the program’s standards for staff education.

Preschool Promise was made possible by voter approval last November of a 5-year Cincinnati Public Schools levy that includes $33 million for K-12 education and $15 million a year to expand access to quality preschool for children from economically challenged families.

For a preschool provider to participate in Preschool Promise, it must be located in the Cincinnati Public School district boundary. Preschool Promise utilizes the State of Ohio’s Step Up To Quality (SUTQ) program standards to measure quality preschool. By the year 2020, any preschool in Ohio receiving state funding will be required to maintain at least a 1-star SUTQ rating, and by 2025, a 3-star rating.

Providers can participate in Preschool Promise in one of two ways, based on their SUTQ rating:

  • Quality improvement supports, which help providers get to and maintain a quality preschool program. To receive supports, a provider may not yet be rated or have a 1-2 star rating.
  • Tuition assistance reimbursements for students. To receive tuition assistance reimbursements a provider must maintain a 3-5 star rating.

“We would like to increase the number of preschools that are able to participate in the tuition reimbursement component of Preschool Promise,” said Stephanie Byrd, interim executive director for Preschool Promise. “We’re hearing from preschool directors that the Step Up to Quality staff education requirement is one of their biggest obstacles.”

The forum at Cincinnati State will focus on just that — how preschool providers can meet one of the SUTQ requirements–college education requirements for preschool teachers and assistants.

Information will be provided on an accelerated Child Development Associate (CDA) program, associate degree programs, bachelor degree pathways, scholarships, and other topics.

The forum will also include a discussion.

“We want to hear from the preschool directors about what we can do to make it easier to meet their staff education requirements,” said Sandra Owen, program chair for the Cincinnati State Early Childhood Education Program.

The meeting will be held on Cincinnati State’s Main Campus on Tuesday, July 25 from 1:00 – 2:30 p.m., in Room 128 of the college’s Main Building.

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