July, 2011, Wheeling, IL – The McCormick Center for Early Childhood Leadership at National Louis University was awarded a $5,100,000 six-year contract from the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) to provide quality assurance monitoring of Preschool for All programs serving children ages 3-5 in Illinois.
The McCormick Center currently conducts program quality assessments for the state’s Quality Counts–Quality Rating System sponsored by the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS). Having one organization provide quality assurance monitoring for both ISBE and IDHS programs creates a comprehensive and integrated assessment system. This system will help ensure consistency in the delivery of early learning and development services across early childhood programs, promote data sharing between state agencies, and reduce state costs associated with duplication of effort.
Founded in 1985, the McCormick Center for Early Childhood Leadership is dedicated to enhancing the management skills, professional orientation, and leadership capacity of early childhood educators. Funded by grants and contracts from philanthropic foundations, state agencies, and corporations, the McCormick Center’s activities encompass four areas: training and technical assistance to improve the knowledge base, skills, and competencies of early childhood administrators; program evaluation to improve the overall quality of early childhood services; research on key professional development issues; and public awareness of the critical role that early childhood directors play in the provision of quality services for children and families.