Illinois Head Start (only) and Early Head Start (only) early care and education programs can participate in ExceleRate Illinois.
Illinois Head Start and Early Head Start early care and education programs that pursue a Circle of Quality, above the Licensed Circle of Quality, must meet all domain requirements specific to the Circle of Quality for which they are applying.
To apply via the Head Start path:
- All classrooms must be Head Start-funded and operated in accordance with E/HS Performance Standards for the full program day.
- The grantee must be in good standing, as evidenced by its current federal monitoring results, and not subject to DRS.
- Available for both community-based and school-based sites. Licensed sites must be in compliance with ExceleRate IDCFS Licensing Requirements.
*This initiative is not available for delegate agencies or partner sites of Head Start grantees.
Silver Circle of Quality Head Start Application
Gold Circle of Quality Head Start Application
Eligibility and Enrollment Process
Head Start grantees may enroll their directly-operated sites in ExceleRate Illinois at the Silver Circle of Quality with the Head Start Enrollment Application. Grantees may also request additional site-level assessment for the Gold Circle of Quality by checking the appropriate box on the enrollment form. Grantees must provide their current federal monitoring results which verify compliance with Head Start Program Performance Standards, and complete certifications to confirm program model, classrooms, enrollment, oversight, and other administrative requirements. Licensed, school-based, and other legally license-exempt Head Start sites are eligible for this initiative, provided all classrooms are Head Start-funded.
At application, licensed sites must be IDCFS-licensed for a minimum of one (1) full year, with no pending or substantiated licensing violations within the last 12 months. Sites should work with their licensing representative to clear any violations prior to application. Violations can be verified on the IDCFS Sunshine website, or by calling the IDCFS information line at (877)746-0829. Each year, the site is required to submit an annual report to ensure there are no pending or substantiated IDCFS violations and the programs most recent federal monitoring report shows no deficiencies. In addition, any area(s) of non-compliance have been corrected.
If a licensed site has any classroom(s) not funded by Head Start and not monitored by the grantee, it is not eligible for this initiative. Application for ExceleRate Illinois may be made through either the child care center accreditation or assessment paths.
Any technical assistance &/or training needs should be requested through Head Start.
Please contact ExceleRate at