About Us
The History of Oak Crest Preschool
Oak Crest Preschool was founded in 1997 by Owner and Director Denay McLaughlin who hand selected the property to accommodate both a tranquil, spacious outdoor playground as well as one that was conducive to the type of exemplary curriculum she wanted to offer children in the area. While earning her degree in Elementary Education she came to realize the need for a program that allows children to obtain the skills they need to have upon entering into kindergarten. Oak Crest Preschool has since been working hand in hand with area elementary schools to ensure that it is continuing to meet the standards for kindergarten readiness.
In 2000, Oak Crest Preschool earned its accreditation through the Florida Association for Child Care Management as a Accredited Professional Preschool Learning Environment. It further earned a “Gold Seal” status amongst preschools in the State of Florida and has successfully maintained this status ever since.
Oak Crest continues to maintain the highest standards in preschool education with it’s age appropriate curriculum, low teacher-student ratios, language and literacy development and provides a loving environment in which children can develop.
The staff at Oak Crest Preschool is committed to the highest standards of early educational practices. Oak Crest Preschool strives to employ teachers who develop warm and caring relationships with children and are dedicated to creating a Developmentally Appropriate classroom environment where all children experience success.
Information about F.A.C.C.M. Accreditation
The Florida Association of Child Care Management has created the APPLE program for accreditation in order to create an association of accredited programs, staffed by Early Childhood Professionals. Further, their aim is to create a network between child care professionals, students, and parents where they can focus their efforts to affect real, long-lasting and affordable changes improving the quality of care, education and work life of families.
Oak Crest Preschool demonstrates, through this State accreditation, it’s commitment to exceed county standards in the care it provides to the children in the community. Accreditation is the end result of an intensive process of documentation, self-examination and validation by an on-site Verifier o the entire program. This includes verification of the center’s policy and procedures, physical facility, employee longevity and training, teacher-child interaction, child care center management, parent and community involvement and advocacy for children.
Each of these components must be present in such a way that together, they create a quality early childhood environment as defined by APPLE standards. The criteria are examined and if the center demonstrates compliance with criteria accreditation is awarded.
Our accreditation validate that Oak Crest Preschool is a safe, nurturing environment and through our caring and knowledgeable teachers and administration we thoroughly prepare children for success in school.
In addition to earning our accreditation, Oak Crest Preschool has been awarded the Florida Gold Seal of Excellence Quality Care Program.
In 2000, Oak Crest Preschool earned its accreditation through the Florida Association for Child Care Management as a Accredited Professional Preschool Learning Environment. It further earned a “Gold Seal” status amongst preschools in the State of Florida and has successfully maintained this status ever since.
Oak Crest continues to maintain the highest standards in preschool education with it’s age appropriate curriculum, low teacher-student ratios, language and literacy development and provides a loving environment in which children can develop.
Gold Seal Program and History
In 1996, the Florida Legislature established the Gold Seal Quality Care program to acknowledge child care facilities and family day care homes that are accredited by nationally recognized agencies and whose standards reflect quality in the level of care and supervision provided to children. In addition, the Legislature established provisions for Gold Seal providers participating in the subsidized child care program, a.k.a. school readiness and early Learning, to receive a higher reimbursement per child, than providers not receiving a Gold Seal designation.
In 1999, the Legislature revised the program to provide tax incentives through the Department of Revenue or county tax appraiser for participating in the Gold Seal Quality Care Program. Since then, the Legislature has revised the maximum amount of the reimbursement. Currently, the rate differential cannot exceed 20% above the reimbursement rate established by the local early learning coalition, a.k.a. the local school readiness coalition.
In December 2004, Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK) legislation was passed and signed into law. This bill requires participating child care facilities and homes to maintain quality care accreditation and higher education standards for staff. The Gold Seal Quality Care Program is an approved accreditation for child care providers to be eligible to participate in VPK. For other VPK eligibility options, please click here for information on the Voluntary Prekindergarten Program.