Seeing STARS

The grade on children's programs in four Addison County towns

October 01, 2012

Vermont's Step Ahead Recognition System (STARS) helps parents evaluate programs that care for their kids. Sponsored by the Child Development Division of the Vermont Department for Children and Families, STARS assigns star rankings to participating childcare, preschool and after-school programs.

Programs must apply to receive a ranking.

The STARS coordinators consider applicants' qualifications and operating policies, then assign them one to five stars. A single star means a program is new or examining its practices and working to improve them; a five-star ranking signifies that an applicant is established and outstanding in all areas.

Parents who meet the state's income-eligibility guidelines may pay less for childcare if they enroll their children in programs with three, four or five stars.

Each month, Kids VT publishes an excerpt of the list of STARS participants. This month's issue features the listings from four Addison County towns; the Middlebury listings appeared in the September issue. Find them online at kidsvt.com. And find more information about STARS, a complete list of rankings and other childcare resources at dcf.vermont.gov/cdd/stars.

Shining Star: Evergreen Preschool

Caleb Kenna
Lisa Presson

30 South Water Street, Vergennes, 877-6702
4 stars

Type of program: Private, nonprofit preschool that follows the Addison Northwest Supervisory Union school-year calendar.

Year opened: 1982

Age range of children: Ages 3 to 5.

Next field trip: Art workshop at Studio V and Treasure Island at the Vergennes Opera House.

Favorite outdoor activity: This time of year, digging for treasures in the sand; in the winter, sledding.

Favorite rainy-day activity: Building rivers, ponds and dams with water that collects in the sand outside.

Favorite book: According to program director Lisa Presson: "We have a large collection of Eric Carle books that we read and on which we base portions of our curriculum."

Most recent staff development activity: The Teaching Strategies Gold Assessment Training sponsored by the Vermont Department of Education.

Each month, Kids VT spotlights one four- or five-star program from the featured geographical area.