Emanuel announces early education rating system

The city of Chicago plans a rating system for early childhood programs that are city-funded.

It’s supposed to start in July 2012, and parents can use it when deciding on programs for their very young children.

Mayor Rahm Emanuel says parents will find out how good these programs are because the ratings will be available online. The web portal is expected to be fully operation by July 2012.

Emanuel says the purpose of the rating system is so that parents know how programs are working, and it will give other programs an example to model after. Emanuel says the rating system will give parents uniform standards so they know how the programs meet educational goals.

Emanuel made the announcement Wednesday at an early childhood center on the city’s South Side.