Statewide honor for Barrington early learning center

Barrington Area Unit District 220's early learning center has received a statewide honor.

District 220 received a Gold Circle of Quality rating from ExceleRate Illinois. ExceleRate is the state's quality recognition and improvement system for early learning and development providers.

It's the first time the early learning center's Preschool for All program received the top award. The honor for District 220 was made on behalf of the Illinois State Board of Education, the Governor's Office of Early Childhood Development, the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services and the Illinois Department of Human Services.

"We're really proud of our program and the hard work of our teachers and support staff," said Barbara Romano, who's been the early learning center's principal for 13 years. "We are highly successful in early childhood education."

Gold Circle programs must meet the highest quality of standards in areas that include learning environment, teaching quality and professional development. Inspectors hired by the state board of education performed an audit last April, which the early learning center had to pass, officials said.

At-risk children ages 3 to 5 from the Barrington area are served in the early learning center's Preschool for All program. The center, on Dundee Road in Barrington, received the Silver Circle of Quality honor in 2014.