Skip to Content
/ Articles / Education /

YMCA Early Learning Center Receives STAR 4 Rating with PACCA

by YMCA of Reading & Berks County

Sep 30, 2022

The YMCA Early Learning Center at Richmond Program Center achieved an important milestone as they received a Star 4 Rating earlier this month from 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 YMCA started serving the Fleetwood community and surrounding areas with before and after school care in 1990. At the YMCA Early Learning Center currently, they provide childcare for infants through PreK while before and after care and camp are held at the Tri Valley YMCA. Achieving the status of a 4 Star Rating is a challenge. “The staff threw themselves into the process of becoming a 4 Star Center.” said Nyree Fernandez, Director of Early Childhood Education, “Through hard work and dedication to their craft, the center went from a 2 Star directly to a 4 Star rating. We also have a very active PTA, so the families were very supportive during the process.”

The center will be formally recognized in November with a celebration with community leaders, YMCA board members, YMCA staff, and parents of children who attend the center. Brandon Shurr, Executive Director of the Tri Valley YMCA, said “Receiving this Star 4 designation is validation of the strong education-based care that our teachers provide. Nyree and her team are dedicated to providing a nurturing environment that provides each child with the building blocks for the rest of their life.”

We need your support!

Your contribution makes community media possible.

A donation of any size to your nonprofit media organization supports the future of media access in our community - the things you love, and the places you care about, by the people you know.

Live Streaming