The Ohio Northern University Child Development Center has received a five-star Step Up To Quality (SUTQ) Award from the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services, Bureau of Child Care and Development, the state agency responsible for licensing and promoting high standards among Ohio’s early care and education programs.

ONU’s Child Development Center was recognized for its excellence and ongoing commitment to children.

“The Child Development Center is pleased to receive this award, which tells families we’re serious about quality. Our star rating means we have highly educated teachers working to prepare children for kindergarten with a higher degree of professionalism,” said June Zimmerman, director of the Child Development Center.

In addition to Zimmerman who is the director/teacher, the staff includes Vi Huff, teacher, and Gail Schoonover, teacher. The school currently has 31 children ages 3-5 years old enrolled.

Step Up To Quality is a voluntary five-star quality rating system administered by the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS) and the Ohio Department of Education (ODE) that recognizes and promotes learning and development programs that meet quality benchmarks over and above minimum health and safety licensing standards.

The steps are based on national research identifying the program standards that lead to improved outcomes for children. These standards include low child-to-staff ratios, higher staff education, ongoing specialized training, improved workplace characteristics, and learning standards.