Accreditation
Accreditation Provides Benchmarks for Quality
http://ericps.crc.uiuc.edu/nccic/ccb/ccb-mj95/accbench.html
The Child Care Bulletin May/June 1995 issue describes how the accreditation process sets and achieves quality.
NAEYC Accreditation General Information
http://www.naeyc.org/accreditation/naeyc_accred/info_general.htm
General information about the process—how to apply, criteria, resources, contact information, and the regional structure are described at this site.
NAEYC Validators
http://www.naeyc.org/accreditation/validator.htm
“Validators are volunteers who make site visits to programs pursuing accreditation by NAEYC's National Academy of Early Childhood Programs. These early childhood professionals verify the written Program Description to ensure that the Academy receives complete and accurate information required to make accreditation decisions.”
What is Accreditation?
http://www.childcare.org/parents/accreditation.htm
Child Care Resources provides an explanation of accreditation for parents.
What research tells us about NAEYC accreditation
http://www.naeyc.org/resources/eyly/1996/16.htm
“To early childhood professionals, NAEYC accreditation means a commitment to providing high quality services: developmentally appropriate curriculum for children; quality interactions among children and staff; a healthy, safe environment for children; a sufficient number of adults per children in group sizes appropriate for children’s age; and strong communication between parents and staff.”
Licensing
Child Care Online
http://childcare.net/indexnew.shtml
Information about the child care business is one of the areas covered at this site.
Care Connectors, Inc.
http://www.child-care-now.com/
“We have over 375,000 records on child care centers, preschools, church centers, family day care homes or providers, and licensing agencies in the United States.”
State Child Care Homepages
http://www.nccic.org/dirs/statehp.html
2001 Family Child Care Licensing Study
http://www.childrensfoundation.net/publications/fccls98.htm
This study “identifies and separates data in each state into family child care homes (usually six or fewer children) and group (or large) family child care homes (generally seven to twelve children)” on 23 indicators.
Program Management
Administration of Child Care Centers
http://www.learn.colostate.edu/courses/course.asp?ID=HD%20439
http://www.uiowa.edu/~c07e189/
Examine university courses to see what might be required of child care administrators.
Funding Opportunities for Child Care
http://www.nccic.org/faqs/funding.html
NCCIC provides information about several subsidy programs.
Management of Child Development Centers
http://vig.prenhall.com/catalog/academic/product/1,4096,0132386356,00.html
Review the Prentice Hall text on Management of Child Development Centers.
Preschool Management
http://www.ecewebguide.com/preschool_management.htm
Connections to accreditation, licensure, finances, grants, insurance, management software, staff development, and taxes show all the various components of program management.
Supervising the Education Component Staff
http://www.bmcc.org/Headstart/Edu_Coordinators/part6-136.htm
This chapter demonstrates effective supervision of preschool staff.
Quality Early Childhood Programs
Educational Models Study
http://www.highscope.org/Research/models.htm
“This High/Scope study reviewed the documentation, validation, and dissemination status of six popular curriculum-based approaches to early childhood education: the Montessori method, the Bank Street Developmental-Interaction approach, the High/Scope Curriculum, the Kamii-DeVries constructivist approach, the Teaching Strategies' Creative Curriculum, and the Direct Instruction model.”
High-Quality Child Care: Luxury Option or Standard Equipment?
http://www.naeyc.org/resources/eyly/1997/02.htm
“Deborah Koshansky reminds us that "option packages" do not exist when it comes to a high-quality early childhood education.”
How Can I Find a High Quality Preschool Program?
http://npin.org/library/pre1998/n00232/n00232.html
Lilian Katz provides information on what to look for in a high-quality preschool.
How Can Parents Identify a High Quality Preschool Program?
http://npin.org/library/pre1998/n00145/n00145.html
“When you choose a preschool program, it is important to consider the characteristics of your child, the program, and the preschool staff; as well as the preschool's physical environment; and which combination of these factors would provide the best experience for your child.”
Montessori Programs in Public Schools
http://www.ericdigests.org/1992-2/montessori.htm
An overview of Montessori classrooms is presented along with information about numbers in public schools in 1992.
Quality Counts
http://www.edweek.org/sreports/qc01/
“Education Week concludes that states must strike a better balance among standards, assessments, and the tools students and schools need to succeed.”
Ten Signs of a Great Preschool
http://npin.org/library/pre1998/n00241/n00241.html
“If your child is between the ages of 3 and 6 and attends a child care center, preschool, or kindergarten program, the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) suggests you look for these 10 signs to make sure your child is in a good classroom.”
Top 10 Signs of a Good Kindergarten Classroom
http://www.naeyc.org/resources/eyly/1996/12.htm
“Developmentally appropriate kindergarten classrooms encourage the growth of children’s self-esteem, their cultural identities, their independence and their individual strengths.” Ten signs are provided.
When babies and toddlers are in child care, accreditation is a key to quality.
http://www.naeyc.org/resources/eyly/1997/08.htm
Studies of “center care and family-based care by relatives and non-relatives alike suggest that as many as 40% of infant and toddler care settings may be potentially harmful to children's healthy development.” Guidelines for quality care are provided.
