VGCC Day Care Center Re-Licensed With Highest Rating

After a lengthy reassessment and reevaluation process, the state has again given a five-star rating – the highest it awards – to the Day Care Center at Vance-Granville Community College.

The Division of Child Development of the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services began rating child care center from one to five stars in 2000. The VGCC Day Care Center earned the five-star rating the following year, and this was its first reassessment. Rating periods are for three years.

Reassessment began last fall when the Day Care Center staff did a self-study and evaluated the center based on the results of its 2001 rating review. Although that was a very high evaluation, some deficiencies were noted, and VGCC personnel addressed them before the latest survey.

Some equipment and materials were added to bring VGCC up to the highest standard, and some changes to daily activity schedules were made.

After visits by fire and sanitarian inspectors and a state licensing consultant, two state-appointed evaluators spent a half day at the Day Care Center. They rated the VGCC center’s program in three categories – staff education, program standards and compliance history – each worth five points. Only centers that earn 14-15 points get the five-star rating.

Day Care Center Director Denise 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.”

The VGCC Day Care Center is licensed to accommodate 40 children, toddler to 4 years old. Parents may put their children on a waiting list for call when vacancies occur. For more information or to enroll children at the center, call Denise Gill at 738-3220.