On Friday, October 8, the Reading YMCA Childcare Center celebrated an important milestone via Zoom, as the Pennsylvania Childcare Association (PACCA) formally recognized the center’s achievement of a STAR 4 quality rating. The celebration was attended by elected officials Senator Judy Schwank, Representative Manny Guzman, and Mayor Eddie Moran, community leaders and supporters, YMCA staff, and parents of children who attend the center.
The Reading YMCA Childcare Center was awarded a STAR 4 rating by the Pennsylvania Child Care Association (PACCA) through the Keystone STARS program. This designation is the highest possible rating in the state of Pennsylvania and indicates a center which has met the highest quality standards for learning environment, staff education, leadership and management, and partnerships with family and community.
The Reading YMCA has been offering childcare services since the 1960’s through daycare, before and after school care, and summer camp programs. Since 2018, the Y has offered Pre-K Counts, a free, full-day kindergarten readiness program for qualifying children ages 3 through 5 years. Most recently, the Y began accepting Infant and Toddler Childcare Subsidies (ITCS), which assists low-income families with childcare costs.
“To reach the status of a STAR 4 Center is an honor,” said Shelley Eppihimer, Director of Early Childhood Education for the YMCA of Reading and Berks County, “while we have worked hard for this achievement, we could not have done it without the steadfast support of our community leaders and partners.”
The Reading YMCA will hold an in-person event to celebrate this achievement, as well as the opening of the center’s new playground, to be announced at a later date.
