Section 2050.65 ExceleRate Illinois: Quality Rating and Improvement System

TITLE 23: EDUCATION AND CULTURAL RESOURCES

SUBTITLE A: EDUCATION

CHAPTER XI: DEPARTMENT OF EARLY CHILDHOOD

PART 2050 EARLY CHILDHOOD BLOCK GRANT

SECTION 2050.65 EXCELERATE ILLINOIS: QUALITY RATING AND IMPROVEMENT SYSTEM

Section 2050.65  ExceleRate Illinois:  Quality Rating and

Improvement System

Beginning in the 2014-15 school year, each grantee that

operates a preschool education program funded under this Part shall participate

in ExceleRate Illinois (see http://www.excelerateillinois.com and click on

"Information for Providers").  ExceleRate Illinois is the State's

quality rating and improvement system that emphasizes continuous quality

improvement for early learning and development programs and uses a consistent

set of standards organized into four domains of teaching and learning; family

and community engagement; leadership and management; and qualifications and

continuing education.

a)         Based

on the results of monitoring conducted pursuant to Section 2050.67, grantees

shall achieve an ExceleRate Illinois designation based on evidence of meeting

the standards for that designation (see http://www.excelerateillinoisproviders.com/

resources/standard-and-evidence-requirements

for further information).

b)         The

physical location of the preschool education program shall inform the

designation to be assigned under subsection (a).

1)         If

the grantee is a school district and administers the preschool education

program in multiple attendance centers:

A)        the

individual attendance center in which a program is located shall achieve a

designation separate from the school district in situations in which the

attendance center has three or more preschool classrooms; or

B)        the

individual attendance center in which a program is located shall achieve the

designation of the school district in situations in which the attendance center

has fewer than three classrooms

dance center in which a program is located shall achieve a

designation separate from the school district in situations in which the

attendance center has three or more preschool classrooms; or

B)        the

individual attendance center in which a program is located shall achieve the

designation of the school district in situations in which the attendance center

has fewer than three classrooms.

2)         If

the grantee is a community-based child care center, the designation achieved by

the community-based child care center will be assigned to the preschool

classrooms housed at that facility.  The requirements of this subsection (b)(2)

shall apply to any school district that operates a preschool education program

in a community-based child care center.

3)         If

the grantee is a public or private not-for-profit or for-profit entity other

than a school district or a community-based child care center, the designation

achieved by the public or private not-for-profit or for-profit entity shall be

assigned to the preschool classrooms administered by the grantee regardless of

the number of preschool classrooms.

c)         The

designation achieved by a program shall not be changed unless the results of

ongoing monitoring authorized under Section 2050.67 indicate that the program

has either:

1)         met the

standards for receipt of a higher designation; or

2)         failed

to maintain a level of quality necessary to retain the designation currently

achieved.

d)         A

program that fails to achieve a "Gold Circle of Quality" or

"Silver Circle of Quality" designation shall be subject to actions

detailed in Section 2050.67.