Michelle Cutler-Ervin, Central Georgia Technical College’s director for the child development centers, has been selected by the Department of Early Care and Learning as an inaugural member of the Quality Rated Advisory Committee. This committee, comprised of members from across the state, will guide and foster growth for Georgia’s Quality Rated program.

Quality Rated is Georgia’s community-powered quality rating and improvement system for eligible child care programs in the state. Similar to rating systems for other industries like restaurants and hotels, Quality Rated assigns a rating of one star, two star, or three star to child care programs that meet quality standards over and above the state licensing requirements for health and safety. Currently, 729 child care programs in Georgia, or 14 percent of eligible child care programs, are Quality Rated.

“I look forward to working with the first Quality Rated Advisory Committee,” said DECAL Commissioner Amy M. Jacobs. “This important committee is composed of representatives from the Georgia General Assembly, large child care chains, individually owned child care businesses, family day care homes, for profit and non-profit child care, and child care professional organizations. Their diverse experiences and perspectives will help Georgia achieve its goal of 100 percent of eligible child care providers participating in Quality Rated by the end of 2017.”

Cutler-Ervin joined the CGTC staff in 2008 and opened the first center at the Warner Robins campus in June 2009, formerly Middle Georgia Technical College. Upon the merger of MGTC and CGTC in Macon, Cutler-Ervin took over the management of the child care facility on the Macon campus. When the Quality Rated system was implemented in 2014, the child development center at the Macon campus was one of the first programs in the state to receive a three star rating. She is the single representative on the 20-member panel from the middle Georgia area.

“I am honored to have been chosen to serve on this committee,” said Cutler-Ervin. “At CGTC, our Centers focus on the entire family, not just the child. If we can get families involved and help them understand the importance of a high-quality early childhood education, it is better for not just the child but for the family as a whole. By serving in this advisory capacity, I hope to share this message statewide and influence change for the better for children in Georgia.”

CGTC’s child development centers offer care for children ages 3-12 and offer Georgia Lottery-funded Pre-k programs. In Warner Robins, families can take advantage of before and after school care. Cutler-Ervin states that the Centers strive to keep costs affordable for families, and at the same time provide superior care for the students.

For more information about CGTC’s child development centers, call 478-988-6824.