Congratulations Sunset Hills ECC & Club 66

See the news release below for more information.

Local early childhood organization recognized for quality child care

Omaha, NE March 23, 2026 – Sunset Hills Early Childhood Center & Club 66 has been recognized by

Nebraska Step Up to Quality for its commitment to quality child care and education, achieving the highest

rating of a Step 5. Step Up to Quality programs go beyond state licensing requirements to better serve

the needs of young children and their families and to prepare them for success in kindergarten and

beyond.

With 90 percent of brain development occurring before age 5, early child care and education is crucial to

a child’s future success. Early learning builds the foundation for skills needed in school, work and life.

Studies show that children who receive quality early child care and education are more likely to show

improved reading and math skills, attend college and earn higher wages.

While the majority of Nebraskans believe quality early child care is very important, only 10 percent

strongly agree that young children in our state are prepared to be successful when they begin

kindergarten, according to a survey conducted by Buffett Early Childhood Institute and Gallup. Parents

believe their local providers could do better when it comes to quality – only 15 percent are very satisfied

with the quality of programs where they live.

“It is crucial that providers and educators across the state have a mutual understanding of what quality

looks like in the child care environment and that they feel supported on their path to quality,” said Lauri

Cimino, director of Step Up to Quality. “Programs enrolled in Step Up to Quality have access to coaching

and resources that enable any provider – big or small – to take quality to the next level.”

Step Up to Quality supports all types of early child care and education programs, including licensed family

child care homes and child care centers, Head Start and Early Head Start programs, public schooloperated

early childhood programs and licensed preschools.

Sunset Hills ECC & Club 66 Site Director, Angelique Jocson and her team are committed to providing

high quality care and education to the children in their program. The continuously strive for excellence

through their creative and intentional learning experiences and whole child focused teaching.

To learn more about Step Up to Quality, visit stepuptoquality.ne.gov.

Step Up to Quality is the state of Nebraska’s Quality Rating and Improvement System (QRIS). A QRIS

helps states assess, improve and communicate the level of quality of early childhood programs.

Programs are awarded quality ratings for meeting a defined set of program standards. Step Up to Quality

is voluntary for most early childhood programs. Programs who receive more than $250,000 in child care

subsidies are required to participate. Step Up to Quality is funded through the Nebraska Department of

Education and Department of Health and Human Services.