The staff of the VGCC Child Care Center, including, from left, Rhonda Pegram, Deborah Harris, Kathy Hughes, Pam Harris, Denise Gill and Hilda Cordell, proudly display the certificate indicating the center’s renewed five-star license. (VGCC Photo)
The state of North Carolina has once again awarded a five-star license — the highest possible rating — to the Child Care Center at Vance-Granville Community College’s Main Campus.
“This state evaluation measures quality in child care programs and is done once every three years,” said Denise Gill, the manager of the child day care center. “On a scale of one to 15 points, our program scored 14 total points, and we have again been awarded the highest rated license available to child care facilities.” Gill expressed her pleasure at earning the high rating and said she was especially pleased for what it means to the children. “There is a direct link between the number of stars earned and the quality of care at a center,” Gill said. “The five-star rating shows everyone that we give the best quality of child care available.”
Since the North Carolina Division of Child Development and Early Education began the current system of rating child care centers in 2000, the center on VGCC’s Main Campus has earned the five-star rating in five consecutive evaluations (2001, 2004, 2007, 2010 and 2013). VGCC also maintains a five-star-rated child care center on its Franklin County Campus.
After visits by fire and sanitarian inspectors and a state licensing consultant, two state-appointed evaluators spent two half-days at the Main Campus Child Care Center. They rated the center in two categories – staff education and program standards. The day care center received a perfect score of seven points in the area of education. Program standards were measured using Classroom Rating Scales, on which VGCC scored above average. Finally, the center was eligible for one bonus point because all of its teachers have associate’s degrees in early childhood education, for a total of 14 out of a possible 15 points. “I am proud of our staff and their hard work,” Gill said. “This evaluation was the culmination of months of self-evaluation. Throughout this process, our staff members have demonstrated their diligence and dedication to ensuring that we maintain the best possible care for the children we serve.”
Gill pointed out that not only does the center provide outstanding child care, but it also affords an excellent environment for students in Vance-Granville’s Early Childhood Associate program to gain practical training. The VGCC Child Care Center is licensed to accommodate 38 children, toddler to four years old. Some spaces will be available to enroll four-year-old children this fall. For more information, parents can call Denise Gill at (252) 738-3220.