CLC Children's Learning Centers receive renewal of state-wide quality award

The Children's Learning Centers at the College of Lake County's Grayslake and Lakeshore Campuses have received a renewed quality designation by the state of Illinois as Gold Circle of Quality centers. The annual designation recognizes the centers' dedication to continuous quality improvement by demonstrating quality on 17 standards and meeting or exceeding benchmarks, as validated by an independent assessor. ExceleRate Illinois is the state's quality rating and improvement system for early learning and development providers.

"We are very proud to once again receive the Gold Circle of Quality," said Sandy Groeninger, director of the CLC Children's Learning Center. "Providing quality in early learning and development helps our children be better prepared for success in school and in life."

Teresa Aguinaldo, CLC dean of Student Life, commended the work of Groeninger and Carlotta Conley, Lakeshore Campus coordinator, and their staffs.

"Our Children's Learning Centers are staffed by dedicated professionals who plan innovative projects for the children to enjoy and learn from," Aguinaldo said. "Recent examples include making pottery and building a classroom robot at the Grayslake center, planting sunflowers at the Lakeshore Campus and attending the Kohl Children's Museum in downtown Waukegan. I am so proud of the staff for all they do to insure high quality educational programming for our youngest CLC students."

The CLC Children's Learning Centers are nationally accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children. Last October, the Centers received a nearly $400,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Education to provide assistance with childcare costs to 50 low-income students per year until 2021. CLC is one of only two schools in Illinois to receive the grant, and the college's proposal received a perfect score. It marks the second time in the last four years the college has received Department of Education funding providing child care for low-income students. In 2013, CLC received a four-year, $500,220 grant.

This spring, the Grayslake center has 88 children enrolled (full and part time), while the Lakeshore Campus center cares for 25 children (full and part time). The centers offer affordable year-round care for children ages 2-6, and for school-age children up to age 12 during the summer. Children are enrolled to accommodate their parents' class, study and work schedules. For more information, contact the Children's Learning Center at (847) 543-2053.