Brief Overview of Standard: High-quality programs are directed by administrators who have the formal education and professional preparedness to manage the program and lead all staff in providing the most up-to-date practices for educational development.
Please Note in reference to ExceleRate Standard 4B for licensed family child care centers:
Assistants and Substitutes must hold the applicable Gateways ECE or FCC Credential, or have a pending application on file. If not meeting the applicable Credential, the program administrator/staff may write a CQIP to outline goals, action steps, and specific coursework/training the individual can accomplish over the year to work towards the applicable Credential. The program administrator/staff should use the letter each individual received from the Credential Department to guide CQIP development in what coursework/training is needed. Updated CQIP of accomplishments towards Credential attainment will be required at the annual report and progress must be shown.
Informational Resources
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ExceleRate Illinois and Gateways to Opportunity Credentials Frequently Asked Questions
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ExceleRate Illinois has set standards for FCC Assistant and Substitute and Provider qualifications at each Circle of Quality that require staff to have Gateways to Opportunity Credentials. Use this FAQ to navigate and understand the use of Gateways Credentials throughout ExceleRate.
Gateways to Opportunity ECE Credential
The ECE Credential, awarded through Gateways to Opportunity and recognized by the State of Illinois, defines what a practitioner working with children birth to age 8 should know and be able to demonstrate at various levels of training, education, and experience.
Gateways to Opportunity Family Child Care Credential
The Family Child Care (FCC) Credential is for professionals working as family child care providers or assistants for children ages birth through 12 years. To earn the FCC Credential you will need to have specific levels of training, education, and experience.
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ExceleRate Illinois Training Bundles for Credential Credit
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There are a variety of trainings that Administrators and teaching staff are required to complete for ExceleRate Illinois. This flyer includes the related and required trainings that have been bundled together to count towards designated Gateways Credentials. When the outlined combination of trainings is completed, points (as noted) may be applied toward an applicant’s Gateways Credential. Most of these trainings are available at https://courses.inccrra.org/
Credential Applicant Flowchart
This document outlines the Gateways Credential process, from figuring out which credential to apply for to receiving your credential.