Keystone Stars

Y programs are licensed by the Office of Child Development, PA Department of Public Welfare and meet YMCA of the USA Quality Check Standards.  Like a hotel rating system, Y programs are accredited by the Pennsylvania Keystone STARS program.  That’s important to you as a parent because you can be sure your kids are thriving in the highest quality learning environment with qualified, certified teachers who annually seek continuing education and certifications in CPR/First Aid, Water Safety, Fire Safety & Child Development.

All Y programs are either Keystone 3 or 4 accredited.  Each stars designation has its own research-based performance standards.  These standards measure areas of childcare and education.

What you can expect from the quality rating is:

• Professional development and training for our teachers; half to two-thirds of the staff have completed or are enrolled in credentials or degrees
• Literacy activities including reading, story-telling and encouraging written and verbal communication
• Parent and community resources are used effectively in the quality delivery of the program
• Business, organizational and staff compensation practices are maximized
• A review of the program center by a nationally recognized environment rating scale that indicates a high quality score