Sunrise recognized as a quality early childhood program under new state recognition system
The Sunrise Children’s Center, an early childhood education program of the Regional Services and Education Center (RSEC), received a $123,840 grant from the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services’ Child Care Achieving Stabilization Program (CCASP) to support classroom renovations to meet the newest quality standard in the state. The RSEC board of directors visited the school to tour the updated classrooms and to celebrate Sunrise’s Granite Steps for Quality (GSQ), a voluntary quality recognition system for licensed child care providers in the Granite State.
“We are pleased to be able to invest in Sunrise’s long-term sustainability,” said Adam Steel, Vice Chairperson of RSEC and Superintendent of SAU 39. “The funds from the CCSAP will help maintain the high quality of our teaching staff and the care they provide to our young children.”
The grant supported renovations to the classrooms, equipping them with materials to meet the state’s newest quality childcare recognition standards – Granite Steps for Quality (GSQ). Previously, New Hampshire had three designations for quality childcare: Licensed, Licensed Plus and Accreditation. The GSQ replaces Licensed Plus and will use a systemic approach to ensuring all providers are qualified and committed to ongoing professional development to support social-emotional skills for children.
“We’re honored to have this recognition as a quality early childhood in New Hampshire,” said Judy Koch, Executive Director at RSEC. “The grant further allows us to continue the high-quality early education programs and excellent care for which Sunrise has become known.”
Funding for the CCASP initiative came from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). The grant paid for improvements to the 25-year-old building as well as capital improvement, such as the beginnings of a new playground at Sunrise.
