East Maine District 63 At-Risk Preschool Receives Illinois State Board of Education Gold Circle of Quality
The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) has awarded District 63's At-Risk Preschool a Gold Circle of Quality, noting that it meets or exceeds a wide range of benchmarks measuring high quality service provision.
The preschool serves District children who are "at-risk" for school difficulties. Families and children must qualify for the program through an application and screening process; the goal is to provide early, continuous, intensive, and comprehensive education for these children -- as well as family support services to help prepare the children for later school success.
ISBE's Circle of Quality program is part of the agency's ExceleRate Illinois initiative, a new quality rating and improvement system for early learning and developmental programs across the state. To receive a Gold Circle of Quality, District 63's At-Risk Program had to meet or exceed standards related to teaching and learning, family and community engagement, leadership and management, and staff qualifications and continuing education.
East Maine School District 63's Early Childhood Education Center serves more than 200 children annually through programs for at-risk and special needs children, and a general tuition-based community program. Through its six elementary schools and junior high, the District itself serves a diverse population of more than 3,600 PreK-8th grade students who live in portions of Des Plaines, Niles, Glenview, Park Ridge, and Morton Grove.
For information about the At-Risk Preschool Program, visit www.emsd63.org/domain/624 or contact Emily Epstein at 847.745.6439.