Thayer Kids Academy Receives Step 2 Rating in Nebraska's Step Up to Quality Program

Thayer Kids Academy Receives Step 2 Rating in Nebraska's Step Up to Quality Program

HEBRON, NE - Thayer Kids Academy (TKA), a newly established 501(c)(3) organization in Hebron, has been officially awarded Step 2 of Nebraska's Step Up to Quality Program. This achievement marks a significant milestone in TKA's commitment to providing the highest quality early childhood education and care for the community. The accomplishment was made possible with the dedication and hard work of TKA's Lead Infant Teacher/Supervisor, Paige Yoachim.

The center, which was previously owned and operated as a for-profit business by Hannah and Chris Dunlap under the name Five R Amenities, was recently purchased and transformed into a non-profit entity. This transition reflects the community's dedication to ensuring accessible and high-quality child care for all local families.

What Step 2 Entails

The Step Up to Quality Program is a voluntary, five-step quality rating and improvement system for licensed child care providers in Nebraska. Each step builds on the last, with increasing requirements that go above and beyond the state's basic licensing standards. Reaching Step 2 signifies that a program has gone through a rigorous process of professional development and is committed to continuous improvement.

To achieve Step 2, programs like TKA must complete specific requirements focused on professional training. The key requirements include:

• Completion of Step Up to Quality Orientation: A 1.5-hour training session for the program's director or lead designee.

• Specialized Training Hours: Staff member must complete a minimum of 24 hours of training across at least four of the Nebraska Early Learning Guidelines domains.

• Specific Coursework: Staff must complete three hours of "Special Care Training" and a four-hour course on either the Environment Rating Scales or CLASS (Classroom Assessment Scoring System).

• Documentation and Self-Assessment: The program must also submit information to the Nebraska Early Childhood Professional Records System (NECPRS) and complete a pre-self-assessment using Go NAPSACC, a tool designed to promote healthy habits in early childhood programs.

This achievement demonstrates that the staff at Thayer Kids Academy are pursuing ongoing education and have a solid foundation in best practices for early childhood development. This dedication directly benefits the children and families they serve by ensuring a safe, supportive, and stimulating learning environment.

Looking Ahead to Step 3

Thayer Kids Academy is not stopping at Step 2. With this milestone now achieved, the team is eagerly preparing to take the next leap to Step 3, with the goal of reaching it within a calendar year.

Advancing to Step 3 involves gathering documentation to support quality indicators and, for some programs, an on-site observation by a trained early childhood education professional. This step focuses on curriculum, learning environments, teacher-child interactions, and family engagement. By pursuing a higher rating, TKA is committing to further enhancing the quality of its program through:

• Improved Curriculum and Learning Environments: Ensuring that the program's educational offerings are developmentally appropriate and align with evidence-based practices.

• Enhanced Teacher-Child Interactions: Promoting active engagement and effective teaching approaches that support each child's learning and development.

• Stronger Family Partnerships: Building and maintaining collaborative relationships with families to support children's learning both at the center and at home.

The Thayer Kids Academy team is incredibly grateful for the support from the community and the dedication of its staff, particularly Paige Yoachim, in reaching this important milestone. They are ready to continue improving their center, their training, and their overall program to provide the best possible care for Hebron's children.

Kendra Taylor, Executive Director

Katie Schmitt, Director of Childcare Development