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www.FredParent.NET 41 c reated to help parents select high quality early education programs, the Virginia Star Quality Initiative (VSQI) has been a successful community resource for parents and education centers alike. The program ranks centers based on five qualifications, located on its website, smartbeginnings.org. Though a school can begin as unranked, by working with Smart Beginnings, it can achieve a full five-star ranking. "We began as a two-star center, but after reassessing ourselves in all areas, including kindergarten transition, mentors for new teachers, and science activities, we are currently rated as a four- star center." says Debbie Gillespie, director of Four Seasons Daycare in King George County. Gillespie says that the access to training dollars from Smart Beginnings for her teachers has been crucial in raising its professional skills and improving morale. Tina Shorter of Lighthouse Academy echoes Gillispie's sentiment. "We are so excited to be going into the VSQI program," she says. "Smart Beginnings has been willing to work alongside us to improve our program. We all want the best for our children." If you would like to learn more about having a preschool or early learning center rated, contact Dana Petto at dana@ smartbeginningsra.org or call (540) 479.6944. Four Star Ratings Caroline County: 0 City of Fredericksburg • St. George's Episcopal Preschool King George County • Four Seasons Daycare • King George Family YMCA Preschool Spotsylvania County • Ron Rosner YMCA Preschool • Cedar Forest Elementary • Courtland Elementary • John J. Wright Educational and Cultural Center • Livingston Elementary • Salem Elementary • Wilderness Elementary Stafford County: 0 Three Star Ratings Caroline County • Lewis & Clark Elementary • Madison Elementary City of Fredericksburg • Sunshine Child Care Center King George County Spotsylvania County • Children of America Bluemont Crossing Lee's Hill • Minnieland: A Child's Place II Stafford County • Children of America Deacon Road • Massad Family YMCA Preschool • Stafford County Head Start Two Star Ratings Caroline County • Bowling Green Elementary City of Fredericksburg: 0 King George County: 0 Spotsylvania County • Children of America Salem Church • Creative Childcare Harrison Road • Learn 'n Play • Salem Fields Learning Center Stafford County • Children of America DocStone Star Quality Centers Go from FOUR to FORTY in Six Years Growing By Leaps and Bounds