The Gold Circle of Quality recognizes programs which have demonstrated quality on all seventeen standards, as verified by a state approved assessor.
Gold Circle programs meet or exceed specific quality benchmarks on learning environment, instructional quality, and all program administrative standards; group size and staff/child ratios; staff qualifications; and professional development. The program must be IDCFS licensed for at least one year and have all pending and substantiated IDCFS violations from the previous year cleared (at application and yearly thereafter).
These standards and evidence requirements are detailed on the pdf Excelerate FCC Overview Chart (709 KB) ( pdf Spanish (711 KB) ).
Where Should a Family Child Care Provider Start?
What can Licensed Family Child Care do to prepare for the application process? Check out these pdf helpful tips (834 KB) ( pdf helpful tips in Spanish (844 KB) )!
The provider should complete the ExceleRate Illinois Orientation for licensed family child care providers to learn the details of participation in ExceleRate. From there, decide which Circle of Quality your program would like to work towards. A CCR&R Quality or Infant Toddler Specialist at your local Child Care Resource and Referral (CCR&R) can help by explaining ExceleRate as well as help you make program improvements to enhance the quality of care you provide to benefit children.
Gold Circle Pathways
As you learned in the ExceleRate Orientation, there are two pathways to attaining a Gold Circle of Quality:
- The Accreditation Path - If you choose this path you are able to use your accreditation status to show evidence for many of the ExceleRate Illinois standards. Please review the pdf NAFCC crosswalk summary (364 KB) for details and the additional requirements for alignment with ExceleRate Illinois.
- The Assessment Path - This path allows the provider to complete self-assessment using the Family Child Care Environment Rating Scale-Revised (FCCERS-R), as well as program self-assessment using the Business Administration Scale 2nd edition (BAS) to prepare for on-site assessment. On-site program assessment will occur by a state-approved assessor, as well as verification of other ExceleRate Standards. Download and print the pdf Getting Ready for the Gold Circle of Quality (404 KB) (available in pdf Spanish (386 KB) ) document to begin.
What does Assessment Look Like?
In order for FCCERS assessment to occur, at least 3 children must be present for a minimum of three consecutive hours. At least 2 of the children cannot be the provider’s own
A state-approved assessor will arrive at the start time agreed on with the provider to conduct Family Child Care Environment Rating Scale-Revised (FCCERS-R) assessment. (Note: Personal Care Routines will not be scored in the ExceleRate assessment process).
A state-approved assessor will also verify Business Administration Scales (BAS) items (using the BAS - 2nd edition) of Fiscal Management, Record Keeping, and 3 provider selected items as chosen by the program at application.
The assessor will also be verifying any additional documentation as noted on the Standards Overview Chart and the Getting Ready for Gold checklist. The provider should have an organized Program Portfolio, by Standard, inclusive of all BAS documentation and documentation to verify other Gold Standards.
The pdf Preparing for On-Site Assessment FAQ (467 KB) answers many questions regarding assessments. It is important for the Family Child Care Provider to review this document so that everyone knows what to expect during assessment.
Applying for Gold Circle of Quality
Licensed Family Child Care Group Home Application
A program can apply for the Gold Circle of Quality when the training and initial requirements of Standards have been met and the program feels they are ready for an on-site verification visit (if applying the Assessment Path). If a program is applying through the Accreditation Path, they should be able to use the applicable Accreditation Crosswalk and apply by submitting the documentation required on the application.
Application to Gateways Credentials is required at all Circles of Quality (Standards 4A and 4B of the Overview of Standards Chart). Each year, progress must be shown toward meeting applicable pdf Gateways Credentials (466 KB) .
Gateways Credentials (i.e. ECE Credential levels 3-5, Infant Toddler Credential levels 3-5, Illinois Director Credential levels I-III, and the Family Child Care Credential levels 4-5) meet the following ExceleRate Illinois training requirements (across all circles of quality):
- Finding a Curriculum that Works for You
- Introduction to Developmental Screening Tools
- Fundamentals of Child Assessment
- Welcoming Each & Every Child
- Family and Community: Partners in Learning
- An Introduction to Transitions
- Understanding and Planning for Continuous Quality Improvement
- Basics of Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Practice
- Creating Individual Professional Development Plans
Gateways Family Child Care Credential level 3 meets the following ExceleRate Illinois training requirements (across all circles of quality):
- Finding a Curriculum that Works for You
Once your ExceleRate application has been received and initial documentation/requirements have been reviewed by INCCRRA, an on-site assessment by a state-approved assessor will be scheduled if required.
Once the assessment is complete (if applicable), detailed ExceleRate reports are generated and sent to the program within 6-8 weeks of assessment, along with an ExceleRate eligibility letter. If Gold was not attained due to meeting assessment scores an appeal process is available.
ExceleRate Eligibility at Gold
Programs are awarded the Gold Circle of Quality for a period of 3 years.
To maintain eligibility each year, the program must submit an annual report, that may include:
- IDCFS License in good standing with all pending and substantiated violations from the previous 12 months cleared. It is the provider's responsibility to clear these violations with their IDCFS representative.
- Current accreditation certificate if applicable
- Maintaining Family Child Care Provider & staff qualification requirements. If the program is not meeting Credential requirements, CQIP must be shown of work accomplished over the previous 12 months. This includes specific training/coursework taken to meet applicable Credential requirements. Progress since the last CQIP must be shown.
- Submission of a CQIP on Standards 1A, 1C, 3A (at a minimum). Progress must be shown each year.
- Additional items as needed