Joliet early childhood center receives award for quality

Marycrest Early Childhood Center recently received the Gold Circle of Quality award through ExceleRate Illinois, the state’s system for supporting continuous improvement among early learning providers.

The school is one of only 142 public school-based early childhood sites in Illinois that received this top distinction.

Gold Circle programs have met the highest standards for quality in three areas: learning environment and teaching, administration, and training and education.

The winning programs are also actively engaged in continuous quality improvement.

This is the third time in a row that Marycrest Early Childhood Center has received the Gold Circle of Quality distinction (2013, 2017, 2020).

In addition to being recognized by the State Board of Education, Marycrest Early Childhood Center was presented with a plaque by the Joliet Public Schools District 86 Board of School Inspectors at their Oct. 21 school board meeting.

Marycrest Early Childhood Center houses the preschool program for Joliet Public Schools District 86. Currently 434 students, aged 3 to 5 years old, attend the half day preschool program.

The program provides opportunities for children to grow in four developmental areas: social/emotional, physical, cognitive and language.

The school offers free development screenings and quality preschool services for children living in the Joliet District 86 school boundaries who qualify.

To schedule a screening, please fill out a request form at joliet86.org/our-schools/marycrest/ or call the school at 815-725-1100.