Pennsylvania’s Keystone STARS program is an initiative of the Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) to improve, support and recognize the continuous quality improvement efforts of early learning programs. The Keystone STARS Performance Standards provide the foundation for the program and are grouped into four levels – Standards, Training, Assistance, Resources and Support. Each level builds on the previous level and utilizes research-based best practices to promote quality early learning environments and positive child outcomes.

The Children’s Progress Academic Assessment (CPAA) is an early childhood assessment system that assists teachers in making informed and individualized instructional decisions. CPAA grew out of decades of research at Columbia University and has been used by schools, districts and state agencies nationwide. Stress-free and developmentally appropriate for young learners, this program assesses each student¹s level of comfort with major early literacy and mathematics concepts.

This award recognizes the best in the West Chester area -- as voted by the readers of the Daily Local News.