Our Programs

LifeSpan School and Day Care (LSDC) has been a trusted source since 1985. We provide high quality early education and child care to keep children healthy and safe, inspire them to learn and help working families.

Each day, over 800 children receive high quality early childhood education and child care services at LSDC. We provide full day, year-round, early care and education in our nine licensed centers located in Lehigh, Bucks and Montgomery Counties.

Starting with children as young as 6 weeks and continuing through elementary school age, we guide and encourage children as they learn and develop new skills.

Keystone STARS

This June, a progress report from the Office of Child Development and Early Learning says that preschoolers enrolled in high quality child care were successful in developing the skills they need to start school ready to learn. It also shows how Keystone STARS benefits families by giving them more quality early learning choices.

In 2009 – 2010, more than 97% of young children in Keystone STAR 3 and 4 programs showed age-appropriate or emerging age-appropriate reading, math and social skills at the end of the preschool year.

Thank you for choosing quality child care! All LifeSpan Centers are Keystone STAR 3 programs, and we work hard to provide quality early learning experiences that build a strong foundation for a child’s future success in school and in life.

Since 2004, the percentage of high quality Keystone STAR 3 and 4 programs has more than doubled statewide. Keystone STARS helps early care and learning programs improve their quality through qualified teachers, learning through play activities, smaller classes for more personal attention, and partnerships with families and communities.

As a Keystone STAR 3 quality-rated program, our goal is to help all children reach their full potential to succeed in school and life.

Early learning programs earn a STAR 1 to STAR 4 by meeting the performance standards for that level. STARS performance standards measure the pieces of an early learning program that affect the quality of your child’s early learning in that program, such as:

  • Teacher qualifications
  • Classroom and learning activities
  • Working with families
  • Program management

What to Expect at a STAR 1 Program:

  • Programs will have the PA Early Learning Standards that provide milestones for children’s development on hand.
  • Families receive a Parent Handbook and information on social and family services in the community.
  • Teachers hold a meeting with families when a child enrolls.
  • When a child is ready to move to a new classroom or school, families receive information on making it a smooth transition.
  • Staff develop an annual plan to continue their education.

What to Expect at a STAR 2 Program:

  • At least half of the lead teachers have an Associate’s degree in early childhood education.
  • Teachers hold a meeting with families when a child enrolls, provide daily updates on the child’s activities and hold at least one teacher conference to share child’s progress each year.
  • Teachers assess children’s development once a year, the first within 45 days of enrollment.
  • Teachers use the PA Early Learning Standards to plan learning activities.
  • Teachers use a standardized tool (Environment Rating Scale) to evaluate and improve their classroom setup and learning activities.
  • Program offers activities to help smooth a child’s transition to a new classroom or on to school.
  • Staff receive at least two employee benefits, such as health insurance, which helps reduce staff turnover.
  • Staff complete continuing education each year.

What to Expect at a STAR 3 Program:

  • Lead teachers have at least an Associate’s degree in early childhood education.
  • Teachers hold a meeting with families when a child enrolls, provide daily updates on the child’s activities and hold at least two teacher conferences to share child’s progress each year.
  • Teachers assess children’s development 3 times a year, the first within 45 days of enrollment.
  • Teachers use the PA Early Learning standards to develop curriculum and learning activities.
  • Programs receive an independent evaluation of their classroom setup and learning activities using a standardized tool (Environment Rating Scale).
  • Program works with families and schools to make a smooth transition for children to kindergarten.
  • Staff receive at least 3 employee benefits, such as health insurance, which helps reduce staff turnover.
  • Staff complete continuing education each year.

What to Expect at a STAR 4 Program:

  • At least half of lead teachers have a Bachelor’s degree in early childhood education, all have at least an Associate’s degree.
  • Teachers hold a meeting with families when a child enrolls, provide daily updates and hold at least two teacher conferences to share child’s progress each year.
  • Teachers assess children’s development three times a year, the first within 45 days of enrollment.
  • Teachers use the PA Early Learning Standards to develop curriculum and assessment.
  • Programs receive independent evaluation of their classroom setup and learning activities using a standardized tool (Environment Rating Scale).
  • Teachers will meet with each family to make the child’s transition to kindergarten easier.
  • Staff receive at least four employee benefits, such as health insurance, which helps reduce staff turnover.
  • Staff complete continuing education each year.