Early Childhood Programmes 5 Perspectives On Quality Lilian Katz
Early Childhood Programmes 5 Perspectives On Quality Lilian Katz
ABSTRACT
This monograph on quality in early childhood programs
contains two parts: an exploratory essay on the subject and an
annotated bibliography selected from a search of the ERIC data base
from 1985 through April 1993. The essay examines five perspectives on
assessing the quality of early childhood programs. A top-down
perspective on quality assessment identifies selected characteristics
of a program, such as adult-child ratios and staff qualifications. A
bottom-up perspective attempts to determine how the program is
experienced by the participating children. Such an approach asks,
among other things, whether the children feel accepted by peers,
p.otected by adults, and interested in, rather than bored or
frustrated by, their experiences. The experiences of the families
served by a program are assessed in an outside-inside perspective,
which asks whether families feel that they are accepted and that
their goals for their children are respected. The fourth perspective,
from the inside, considers how a program is experienced by its staff.
In this approach, working conditions, career advancement, and respect
for staff are assessed. Finally, the outside perspective takes into
account how the community is served by the program through assessing
such factors as allocation of community resources and affordability
of the program to families. The implications of the use of multiple
perspectives for assessing program quality are discussed. A list of
20 references is provided. The bibliography of documents and journal
articles on quality in early childhood programs that follows the
essay forms the bulk of the document. Each item in the bibliography
contains bibliographic information and an abstract of the document or
article. (BC)
-2
by Lilian G. Katz
by
0
*1
O
April 1993
This publication was prepared with funding from the Office of Educational
Research and Improvement, U.S. Department of Education, unthr contract
no. OERI 88-062012-92. The opinions expressed in this publication do riot
necessarily reflect the positions or policies of OERI or the Department of
Education.
4
Table of Contents
Introduction 1
Conclusion 13
References 14
7
Perspectives from EECE: A Monograph Series
ERIC/EECE
University of Illinois
805 W. Pennsylvania
Urbana, IL 61801
Telephone: 217-333-1386
Fax: 217-333-3767
Email:[email protected]
Five Perspectives on Quality in
Early Childhood Programs
LILIAN G. KATZ
Director, ERIC Clearinghouse on Elementary
and Early Childhood Education
Professor, Early Childhood Education
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Urbana, Illinois
Introduction
2
ratio of children to adults, the size of groups, the availability of staff
training, and staff turnover rates (p. 4).
There is substantial evidence to suggest that the program and
setting features fisted above and commonly included in top-down criteria
of quality do indeed predict some effects of an early childhood program
(Love, 1993; Beardsley, 1990; Harms and Clifford, 1980; Howes et al.,
1991; Phillips, 1987).
3
9
Am I usually addressed seriously and respectfully, rather than as
someone who is "precious" or "cute"?
5
I
how each parent would answer such questions as, In my relationships with
staff, are the staff:
12 6
An assessment of this aspect of quality would be based on how each
member of the staff might answer such questions as, On the whole, are
relationships with my colleagues:
7-1
4
The development of positive, respectful, and supportive relations.
between staff and parents of diverse backgrounds usually requires staff
professionalism based on a combination of experience, training, education,
and personal values.
Staff-sponsor relationships. One potential indirect influence on the
quality of a program is the nature of the relationships of staff members
with those to whom they are responsible. It seems reasonable to suggest
that, in principle, teachers and caregivers treat children very much the way
they themselves are treated by those to whom they report. To be sure,
some caregivers and teachers rise above poor treatment, and some fall
below good treatment. But one can assume that good environments for
children are more likely to be created when the adults who staff them are
treated appropriately on the criteria implied by the questions listed above.
A recent study by Howes and Hamilton (1993) calls attention to the
potentially serious effects of staff turnover on children's subjective
experiences of the program. Thus the extent to which program sponsors
provide contexts hospitable and supportive of staff should be give serious
attention in assessing program quality. Assessment of quality in the terms
of the inside perspective would be based on the staff's answers to the
following questions:
Once again, not all negative responses are necessarily and directly
attributable to the sponsors or administrators of a program, and the extent
to which they are attributable would have to be determined as part of an
assessment procedure.
8
and other costs when early childhood program quality is poor3.
All early childhood programs, whether they are sponsored by
private or public agencies, are influenced, intentionally or by default, by
the variety of policies, laws, and regulations that govern them. Assessment
of quality from the perspective of the larger society should be based on
how citizens and those who make decisions on their behalf might be
expected to answer the following questions:
95
Since programs for young children are offered under a wide variety of
auspices, each program can generate its own list of appropriate criteria for
assessment from the outside perspective.
43 10
applying the top-down criteria of quality might be appropriate.
It is also conceivable that the staff could have appropriate relation-
ships with parents, but with few of the children. Or it could be that chil-
dren are thriving, but parents do not feel respected or welcomed by the
staff.
On the other hand, it could be that the bottom-up assessments are
low, but that the program rates high in quality from an outside-inside
parental perspective, or vice versa. For example, a staff may feel obliged
to engage children in academic exercises in order to satisfy parental
preferences even though the children might experience their lives as more
satisfying if informal and more intellectually meaningful experiences were
offered. In such instances, the bottom-up assessment of quality is less
positive than the one from outside.
Thus, theoretically, it is possible that from these multiple
perspectives, levels cf satisfaction on the criteria proposed could vary
significantly. This raises the question, Should one perspective be given
more weight than another in assessing the quality of a program? And, if
so, Whose perspective has the first claim to determining program quality?
Issues of Accountability. As suggested above, program providers
can hardly be held accountable for all negative responses on the criteria
listed for each perspective. Some children come to a program with
problems of long standing that originated outside of the program.
Similarly, parents and staff may register low satisfaction on one or more
of the criteria due to factors not attributable to the program itself. Some
families may be struggling with the vicissitudes of their lives in ways that
influence the family members' responses to the program but are not
necessarily attributable to the program.
Problems of attributing the causes of clients' perspectives on a
program raise the difficult question of establishing the limits to which the
staff can be fairly held accountable. As suggested above, the staff of a
program is not obliged to keep everyone happy as much as it is required
to apply the professionally accepted procedures as appropriate for each
case. This suggestion implies that the profession has adopted a set of
criteria and standards of appropriate practice. The view of the limits of
staff accountability being developed here implies that at least one essential
condition for high quality programs is that all staff members are qualified
and trained to employ the accepted practices, accumulated knowledge, and
wisdom of the profession. To be able to respond professionally to each
negative response from the bottom-up or outside-inside perspectives
requires well-trained and qualified staff, and staff with ample professional
experience. This last characteristic is particularly important in the case of
the program director.
This view of the limits of staff accountability also emphasizes the
urgency for the profession to continue the development of a clear
consensus on professional standards of practice below which no
practitioner can be allowed to fall.
The field of early childhood education has already taken important
steps in the direction of establishing consensus on criteria and standards of
practice through the professional associations' position papers on major
issues. The most comprehensive document in this regard is the position
paper of the National Association for the Education of Young Children
(NAEYC) titled Developmentally Appropriate Practice in Early Childhood
Programs Serving Children from Birth through Age 8 (Bredekamp, 1987).
The accreditation procedures and standards of NAEYC's National
Academy of Early Childhood Programs (NAEYC, 1991a) covers most of
the standards implied by the criteria listed above. Position statements on
curriculum content and assessment (NAEYC, 1991b; Bredekamp and
Rosegrant, 1992) have also been issued by NAEYC. NAEYC's new
National Institute for Early Childhood Professional Development is
designed to address professional development qualifications, and other
issues directly indirectly related to staff accountability for
and
implementing professionally accepted practices.
In the case of child care programs in particular, the high rate of
staff turnover, related largely to appallingly low compensation and poor
working conditions in child care centers in the United States (Whitebook,
Phillips, and Howes, 1993) and many other countries, exacerbates the
problems of retaining staff with the qualifications and experience required
for good quality programs.
Criteria and Standards. Any kind of assessment requires the
selection of criteria and the adoption of standards at which the criteria
must be met to satisfy judgments of good quality. As suggested above,
each question in each of the lists above implies a criterion of quality. For
the purposes of this discussion, a criterion is a dimension of experience
thought to determine the quality of the experience. A standard is a
particular level of quality on the criterion. Thus, for example, for the
top-down criterion of ratio of adults to children, the standard of quality
might be set at 1:5, 1:10, or 2:25, depending on the age of the children.
Similarly, for the first criterion listed for the bottom-up
id 12
perspective--"Do I usually feel welcome rather than captured?"a
standard would have to be set as to how intense, constant, or enduring
such feelings must be to meet a standard of acceptable quality. A four- or
five-point scale on each criterion continuum is likely to be sufficient for
most purposes. However, agreement concerning the point at which a
standard of quality has been satisfied must be determined by the assessors.
Furthermore, the issue of whether standards of quality would have to be
met on all or most of the criteria suggested in the five perspectives would
have to be dealt with by those undertaking the assessment.
High and Low Inference Variables. Assessments based on variables
like the amount of space per child, qualifications of staff, observable
characteristics of staff-child interaction, and other commonly used
top-down indices of quality require relatively little or low inference on the
part of the assessor. However, the multiple perspectives approach involves
the use of high inference variables, namely, inferring the deep feelings of
participants and staff, and the thoughts of citizens.
It would be neither ethical nor practical to interview children
directly with the questions posed for the bottom-up perspective. It would
be ethically unacceptable to put children in situations that might encourage
them to criticize their caretakers and teachers. Furthermore, from a
practical standpoint, young children's verbal descriptions of their
experiences are unlikely to be reliable. Thus, assessing the quality of
bottom-up experience requires making inferences about the subjective
states of the children. Ideally, these inferences would be based on
extensive contact and frequent observation and information-gathering by
participants over extended periods of time. In addition, reliable
unobtrusive indices of children's subjective experiences are required for
the assessment of quality from the bottom-up (Goodwin and Goodwin,
1982).
Conclusion
Answers to the questions proposed for each perspective can be used
as a basis for decisions about the kinds of modifications to be made in the
services offered to each child and to the whole group of children enrolled,
and to all their families. When answers are used in this manner, each of
the five perspectives outlined above contributes in a different way to an
overall assessment of program quality as experienced by all who have a
stake in high quality programs. But because all responses cannot be
13
directly attributed to characteristics of a program, the early childhood
profession must continue its efforts to develop, adopt, and apply an
accepted set of professional standards of practice for which practitioners
can fairly be held accountable. Any approach to the assessment of quality
requires not only the development of a set of criteria to apply to each
program, but also some consensus on the minimum standards that must be
satisfied for acceptable quality on each criterion. A start has been made on
the development of consensus about appropriate practices. Further
discussion of these matters among practitioners, program sponsors,
regulatory agencies and membership associations in the field is urgently
needed.
References
Beardsley, L. Good Day Bad Day. The Child's Experience of Day Care,
New York: Teachers College Press, 1990.
Ehrlich, E. Child Care. Quality 's the Issue. Washington, DC: National
Association for the Education of Young Children, n.d.
Harms, T., and Clifford, R.M. The Early Childhood Environment Rating
Scale. New York: Teachers College Press, 1980.
4t) 14
Howes, C., Hamilton, C. E. "The Changing Experience of Child Care:
Changes in Teachers and in Teacher-Child Relationships and Children's
Social Competence with Peers." Early Childhood Research Quarterly. 8
(1), 1993, 15-32.
Katz, L.G. "Afterward." In P.O. Olmstead and D.P. Weikart (Eds.), How
Nations Serve Young Children: Profiles of Child Care and Education in 14
Countries, 401-406. Ypsilanti, MI: High/Scope Foundation, 1989.
Phillips, D. Quality in Child Care: What Does Research Tell Us? Wash-
ington, DC: National Association for the Education of Young Children,
1987.
Whitebook, M., Phillips, D., and Howes, C. National Child Care Staffing
Study Revisited: Four Years in the Life of Center-Based Child Care.
Oakland, CA: Child Care Employee Project, 1993.
22 16
Selected ERIC Bibliography on
Quality in Early Childhood Programs
ERIC Documents
ED349113
Costley, Joan B. 1991. Career Development Systems in Early
Care and Education: A Planning Approach. Boston, MA:
Wheelock College Center for Career Development in Early Care
and Education. 7p.; EDRS Price MF01/PC01 Plus Postage.
This paper examines four issues relevant to planning the use of funding
resources for installing a career development system for practitioners in the
early childhood education field. The first issue concerns the need for a
career development system. Arguments for the importance of such a
system are based on the need for a dynamic career ladder and allowance
for continuing professional growth; a shortage of qualified practitioners;
and the relationship between the amount of a practitioner's training and the
quality of the practitioner's work. The second and third issues concern the
characteristics and components of a progressive career development
system. Training must provide knowledge and skills, be accessible to all
practitioners, allow for practitioner accreditation, and be cumulative.
Components of a career development system should include a system
model, coordinated training, a personnel registry, and a training approval
system. The fourth issue concerns the implementation of a career develop-
ment system. Steps involved in implementation include: (1) developing a
coordinating committee; (2) developing a profile of training needs; (3)
understanding state licensing rules; (4) compiling information about
training programs; (5) developing salary guidelines; (6) convening a state-
wide advisory group; (7) requesting state funds; (8) lobbying for a training
approval process; and (9) establishing a training and planning fund.
17
23
ED349112
Morgan, Gwen. 1991. Career Progression in Early Care and
Education: A Discussion Paper. Boston, MA: Wheelock College
Center for Career Development in Early Care and Education. 9p.;
EDRS Price MFO1 /PC01 Plus Postage.
Several reports on the link between the economy and the quality of child
care indicate that: (1) early care and education benefits two generations of
workers; (2) quality is essential to, but is rarely found in, early care and
education programs; and (3) the key to quality is the professional
development of practitioners. A vision of dynamic career development in
the child care field must address the problems of inadequately trained
practitioners and training systems that are fragmented, sporadic, and
unsuited to the needs of adult learners. A career progression model for the
child care field would adopt an approach in which different roles and
requirements are assigned to different positions in early care and education
programs, and in which practitioners experience role progression and
receive increasingly greater rewards as they obtain additional training and
skills. A system that permits the practitioner with informal training to earn
recognition in the formal system would allow early care and education to
realize its professional goals; improve the quality of training programs;
and result in increased salaries. State policies regulating training of child
care staff are described, and child care training policy issues that states
will face in the future are listed.
ED346970
Boyer, Ernest L. 1992. Cornerstones for a New Century:
Teacher Preparation, Early Childhood Education, A National
Education Index. NEA School Restructuring Series. Washington,
DC: National Education Association. 45p.; available from: NEA
Professional Library, P.O. Box 509, New Haven, CT 06516 (NEA
Stock No. 1846-X-00, $7.95). EDRS Price MF01 Plus Postage.
PC Not Available from EDRS.
2 4 18
prepared to help the growing numbers of disadvantaged children. They
must also have a glcbal perspective and see that the world is a global
village that is politically transformed, economically connected, and
ecologically imperiled. Teachers must help students cooperate rather than
compete and find ways to use technology to help the learning process.
Finally, in light of the stressful home lives of many children, they must
understand how deeply these children are in need, and be caring as well
as competent. The second essay, "Early Childhood Education," proposes
six national objectives for early education: (1) good nutrition for every
child; (2) universal preschool education for every disadvantaged child; (3)
the establishment of non-graded Basic Schools that combine grades K-4;
(4) classes of no more than 15 students; (5) evaluation to ensure that
students have basic language and compu-tation skills before leaving 4th
grade; and (6) intergenerational connections. The final essay, "A National
Education Index," recommends the creation of a set of nationwide
standards that would serve as a framework for state accountability. The
proposed index would include standards for student achieve-ment, the
conditions of teaching, school climate, school finance, accountability and
intervention, and school partnerships with parents and the business
community.
ED345851
Ooms, Theodora; Herendeen, Lisa. 1990. Quality in Child Care:
What Is It and How Can It Be Encouraged? Family Impact
Seminar (Washington, D.C., March 31, 1989). Meeting
Highlights and Background Briefing Report. Washington, DC:
Family Impact Seminar. 30p.; available from: Family Impact
Seminar, 1100 17th Street, N.W., Suite 901, Washington, DC
20036 ($10.00). EDRS Price MF01/PCO2 Plus Postage.
19
report. It begins with a section titled "The Policy Questions," which
provides an overview of such policy issues as the role of the government,
strategies for improving quality, costs, and the effects of stronger efforts
at regulation. The next section, "What is Meant by 'Quality' in Child
Care?" outlines nine components of child care quality, including good
health, nutrition and safety practices, high staff-child ratios, and cultural
and ethnic sensitivity. Also considered is the topic of children with special
needs. Discussion of the question, "What Does the Research Tell Us?"
covers recent studies that attempt to measure the effects of quality in child
care, parents' attitudes about desirable program characteristics, the quality
of service currently available, and the cost of high quality child care, The
section titled "How Can Quality in Child Care Be Assured and
Encouraged?" provides a history of federal, state, and local regulations,
and reviews new national standards. The final section addresses "Non-
regulatory Strategies," such as program accreditation, child care teacher
education and training, resource and referral agencies for parents as
consumers, increases in child care workers' salaries, and the legitimization
of family day care. A total of 29 references, and information on 10
organizational resources, are included in the final 2 sections.
ED344674
American Academy of Pediatrics. 1992. Caring for Our
Children. National Health and Safety Performance Standards:
Guidelines for Out-of-Home Child Care Programs. Evanston,
IL: Author. 447p.; available from: American Academy of
Pediatrics, 141 Northwest Point Blvd., P.O. Box 927, Elk Grove
Village, IL 60009 ($50.00 plus $7.95 shipping). EDRS Price
MF01/PC18 Plus Postage.
2 20
Each chapter includes a rationale for each standard and comments
Imp concerning the standard. A list of references is provided at the end of each
chapter. A series of 39 appendices includes further lists of standards and
additional information relating to standards, a reference list for the
appended materials, a glossary, and an index.
ED343668
Delaware Valley Child Care Council. 1992. What Are Public
Dollars Buying in Day Care? What Should Public Dollars Be
Buying in Day Care? Testimony Summary Report from
Philadelphia, Bucks/ Montgomery, and Chester/Delaware
Public Forums 1990-1991. Philadelphia, PA: 38p.; EDRS Price
MF01/PCO2 Plus Postage.
ED342508
Jewett, Janet. 1992. Effective Strategies for School-Based Early
Childhood Centers. The Northwest Regional Educational
Laboratory Program Report. Portland, OR: Northwest Regional
Educational Lab. 37p. Price MFO1 /PCO2 Plus Postage.
21 fury
r.
represent a range of rural, suburban, and urban programs; large and small
schools; and a variety of program features. The sites are the: (1)
Centennial Early Childhood Center, Portland, Oregon; (2) Mary Harrison
Primary School, Toledo, Oregon; (3) Nome Elementary School, Nome,
Alaska; (4) Ponderosa Elementary School, Billings, Montana; (5) South
Colby Elementary School, Port Orchard, Washington; and (6) Tendoy
Elementary School, Pocatello, Idaho. The paper begins by identifying
themes, issues, and strategies involved in restructuring public schools
around early childhood concerns. Among the themes are these: curriculum
as a continuum of knowledge and thinking processes; curriculum content
as resulting from a dynamic process that involves input from children,
families, and community; children as active learners who make decisions
about their learning activities; developmentally appropriate practice as a
critical underpinning for program design and implementation; and high
expectations for all learners in the diverse classroom. Issues are
categorized in terms of school readiness, organizational or resource
features, personnel, classrooms, family, communities, transition,
comprehensive care, quality control, and administrative concerns.
Strategies relating to each issue are described.
ED342507
Montgomery County Commission on Child Care. 1991. Quality
Child Care--An Investment for the Future. A Special Report of
the Montgomery County Commission on Child Care. Rockville,
MD: Author. 26p.; available from: Children's Resource Center,
332 West Edmonston Drive, Rockville, MD 20852. EDRS Price
MF01/PCO2 Plus Postage.
22
23
percent had paid pension plans. The report recommends: (1) reimburse-
ment rates that accurately reflect the cost of care paid by families in the
county and advocacy for state-funded subsidy programs; (2) the
development by a county office or agency of a consumer education
program to stimulate parents to become involved in attaining high quality
child care; (3) expansion of county activities that disseminate information
to employers and bring employers together in joint efforts to address
mutual child care concerns; and (4) the provision of materials for
providers to use to educate parents about the importance of high quality
care.
ED342500
Howes, Carol lee; Whitebook, Marcy. 1991. Solving California's
Child Care Crisis: Research Addressing Regulations and
Funding. California Policy Seminar Research Report. Berkeley,
CA: California Univ., Berkeley. California Policy Seminar. 26p.;
EDRS Price MF01/PCO2 Plus Postage.
23
5
qualifications to solve the staffing shortage would seriously compromise
the quality of child care in California, and that the staffing crisis could be
eased by salary enhancements and support for training.
ED342497
Meadows, Anne, Ed. 1991. Caring for America's Children.
Washington, DC: National Academy of Sciences, National
Research Council, Committee on Child Development Research and
Public Policy. 54p.; available from: National Academy Press, 2101
Constitution Avenue, N.W., Washington, DC 20418 ($6.50: U.S.,
Canada, and Mexico; $8.00: all other countries). EDRS Price
MF01 Plus Postage. PC Not Available from EDRS.
Information in this booklet is drawn from the 1990 report, "Who Cares for
America's Children? Child Care Policy for the 1990s," which presented
the recommendations of the National Research Council's Committee on
Child Development Research and Public Policy. The committee consisted
of a panel of experts in pediatrics, public policy, business, labor,
education, child care delivery, child development, economics, and other
social sciences. Part I summarizes the panel's findings and describes the
relation of the new federal Child Care and Development Block Grant
program (P.L.101-508) to the panel's work. Part II describes the aspects
of child care that determine its quality and provides information on state
regulation of child care services and professional standards for early
childhood programs. Topics include: federal tax credits; Head Start
expansion; state grant programs; characteristics of high quality child care;
and professional guidelines for quality. Discussion of structural aspects of
quality covers group size, staff-to-child ratio, caregivers, qualifications,
stability and continuity of caregivers, structure and content of daily
activities, space and facilities, and regulation of family day care homes.
ED341465
Kentucky State Dept. of Education. 1990. Guide to Developing
Effective Early Childhood Programs: A Technical Assistance
Document. Frankfort, KY: Author. 48p.; EDRS Price
MF01/PCO2 Plus Postage.
3j 24
Department of Education. The document provides indicators of effective
programs; reviews service delivery systems; supports program planning;
encourages the adaptation of existing models; and promotes the formation
of interagency partnerships. The beliefs and assumptions about child
development held by the Early Childhood Committee are listed. Among
other considerations, the design of an ECE program should: (1)
incorporate components identified by research as present in high-quality
programs; and (2) provide for evaluation through indicators of program
quality. The implementation of an ECE program must consider the need
for: (1) comprehensive services; (2) a variety of service delivery models;
(3) appropriate curriculum; and (4) ongoing staff development.
Appendixes include: (1) a checklist of indicators of program quality; (2)
lists, for the State of Kentucky, of Head Start programs, supervisors of
parent and child education programs, school-age child care programs,
members of preschool interagency planning councils, and early childhood
training centers; (3) descriptions of learning centers, and educational
equipment and materials; and (4) a list of professional educational
organizations.
ED341457
Jewett, Janet. 1991. School-Based Early Childhood Centers. The
Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory Program Report.
Portland, OR: Northwest Regional Educational Lab., Child,
Family, and Community Program. 53p.; Price MF01/PC03 Plus
Postage.
25
rs,
of early childhood practices include lack of state or district support, state
legislation supporting counteracting policies, curriculum control by district
committees, lack of resources, and staff resistance to change. Plans for
facilitating future development of school-based early childhood centers are
described. An appendix summarizes interviews with administrators at
30 early childhood centers in the 5 northwest region states. A list of 24
references is included.
ED340470
Hogan, Eileen L. 1991. The Importance of the Mother-Provider
Relationship in Family Child Care Homes. 9p.; Paper presented
at the Midwest Regional Conference of the Association for the
Education of Young Children (Des Moines, IA, April 1991).
EDRS Price - MF01/ PCO1 Plus Postage.
This study examined the relationship between the family day care home
provider and the mother, and the effect of this relationship on treatment
of the child by the provider. Interactions between 25 family child care
providers and mothers, and between providers and children, were
observed. Observations of interactions between mothers and providers took
place at the end of the day. Interactions between providers and children
were observed during free play times in the day care setting. Findings
showed no evidence of carryover from the mother-provider relationship to
the provider's treatment of the child, and no differences in provider's
affect, warmth, encouragement, frequency of conversations with the child,
amount of teaching, or total amount of discipline toward the child. It is
noted that self-selected family child care homes may have been generally
higher in quality than those that were randomly chosen and that this
phenomenon may have influenced mothers' attitudes.
ED339526
Gellert, Sandra. 1988. Who Should Care for Infants and
Toddlers? A Family Day Care Perspective. 15p.; Paper
presented at the Annual Conference of the National Association for
the Education of Young Children (Anaheim, CA, November
11-13, 1988). EDRS Price MF01/PC01 Plus Postage.
26
32
Advantages are that family day care providers generally: (1) accept
younger infants than do centers; (2) are often conveniently located; (3)
often have flexible hours; (4) provide home-like environments; (5)
communicate directly with parents; (6) provide excellent learning
environments; (7) provide greater individuality of care than do centers;
and (8) are usually cheaper than centers. In regulated centers, providers
and children benefit from the Child Care Food Program. Disadvantages
are: (1) It is difficult to find high quality family day care; (2) Family day
care providers usually have less training in child development than those
in centers; (3) High child-staff ratios are a problem in some areas; (4)
There is a high turn-over rate; and (5) Zoning problems are prevalent.
Several ways of overcoming the disadvantages and improving the quality
of family day care are discussed. The Accreditation of the National
Association for Family Day Care was developed to provide a means of
examining the provider's care in terms of indoor safety, health, nutrition,
interaction with children, indoor and outdoor play environments, and
professional responsibility. Family day care associations that provide
training and support for providers are discussed.
ED338406
Allhusen, Virginia D.; Cochran, Moncrieff M. 1991. Infants'
Attachment Behaviors with Their Day Care Providers. 22p.;
Paper presented at the Biennial Meeting of the Society for Research
in Child Development (Seattle, WA, April 18-20, 1991). EDRS
Price MF01/ PCO1 Plus Postage.
The conditions of day care quality under which infants direct secure
attachment behaviors toward their day care providers were examined. Two
groups of 12- to 18-month- old infants, who were experiencing either 1:4
or 1:7 caregiver-to-infant ratios, and their day care providers, were
observed while they interacted in their day care centers. Caregivers'
effectiveness in caring for the infants, and infants' attachment behaviors
toward the day care providers, were assessed. Results showed that infants
cared for in groups with more favorable ratios had more effective
caregivers, and were thus more likely to direct secure attachment behaviors
toward day care providers. Group size had a similar effect on infant and
caregiver outcome measures, with smaller groups being associated with
more effective caregiving and more secure attachment behaviors. For
infants in groups with less favorable ratios, continuity of care in the same
,o
day care center was more important for the expression of secure
attachment behaviors toward day care providers than was continuity of
care with the same caregiver. Girls' day care providers were more
effective than boys' providers, and girls, in turn, were more likely than
boys to direct secure attachment behaviors toward their day care providers.
ED337246
De Stefano, Lizanne; And Others. 1991. Statewide Search for
Exemplary Practices in Early Childhood Education in Illinois.
20p.; Paper presented at the Annual Conference of the American
Educational Research Association (Chicago, IL, April 3-7, 1991).
EDRS Price MF01/PC01 Plus Postage.
ED336185
Campbell, Lori; And Others. 1991. Mervyn's Family-to-Family
Initiative in Oregon. 13p.; Paper presented at the Annual Family
Day Care Technical Assistance Conference (Atlanta, GA, April 26,
1991). EDRS Price MF01/PC01 Plus Postage.
3' 28
Family-to-Family, a collaboration between community colleges, public
agencies, and businesses that is funded by Mervyn's department stores, is
a two-year effort to enhance the quality of family child care in Oregon. Its
goals are to train at least 450 family child care providers, help at least 60
providers achieve national accreditation, and educate consumers to
recognize and demand high quality child care. By direct and indirect
contact, the program presents caregivers with the advantages of
accreditation, familiarizes them with changes in day care law in Oregon,
and provides them with the means to become more educated or accredited
in their field. The program involves three 15-hour training levels: (1)
Family Child Care: A Firm Foundation; (2) Professional Track; and (3)
Program Track. There is also a two-part workshop leading to
accreditation. (S AK)
ED335121
Bureau of Early Childhood Programs. 1986. Future Trends in
Early Childhood Programs. Boston, MA: Author, Massachusetts
State Dept. of Education. Bureau of Early Childhood Programs.
65p.; EDRS Price - MF01/PC03 Plus Postage.
29 r-
Questions for community-wide early childhood needs assessment and a
1986 early childhood status report on the state's school districts are
appended. References number 130.
ED334225
Fiene, Richard; Melnick, Steven A. 1991. Quality Assessment in
Early Childhood Programs: A Multi- Dimensional Approach.
25p.; Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the American
Educational Research Association (Chicago, IL, April 3-7, 1991).
EDRS Price MF01/PC01 Plus Postage.
30
ED332823
Caruso, Grace-Ann L. 1991. The Ecology of Child Care: The
Relationship of Parent-Caregiver Support and Child Care
Quality to Toddler Behavior. 8p.; Paper presented at the Biennial
Meeting of the Society for Research in Child Development
(Seattle, WA, April 18-20, 1991). EDRS Price MF01/PC01 Plus
Postage.
ED330477
Bollin, Gail G.; Whitehead, Linda C. 1991. Family Day Care
Quality and Parental Satisfaction. 14p.; Paper presented at the
Annual Conference of the American Educational Research
Association (Chicago, IL, April 3-7, 1991). DRS Price
MF01/PC01 Plus Postage.
31
shared childrearing values and beliefs on parental satisfaction with child
care and provider job satisfaction were investigated. The study sample
included 33 providers and 65 of their parent clients. No significant
relationships were found between parental satisfaction with care and
provider job satisfaction. However, parental satisfaction was positively
correlated with shared childrearing values, the quality of the setting, and
the training of the provider. Parental satisfaction was also higher when the
provider's own young children were not in the day care system.
Implications of the findings in regard to advice for parents and providers
are discussed.
ED329333
National Council of Jewish Women. 1988. Facts about Family
Day Care. NCJW Center for the Child Fact Sheet, Number 1.
New York: Author. 3p.; available from: National Council of
Jewish Women, Center for the Child, 53 West 23rd Street, New
York, NY 10010 (free). EDRS Price MF01 Plus Postage. PC
Not Available from EDRS.
Three myths concerning family day care are countered by facts. Myths
are: (1) family day care providers are just babysitters working for pin
money; (2) family day care is an undesirable and inferior substitute for
center-based care; (3) the only way to guarantee high quality family day
care is through strict regulation. In fact, family day care is a real and
demanding occupation, and providers' earnings are often an essential
portion of their families' income. Research has shown that family day care
I has unique qualities that make it the preferred arrangement of many
parents, especially for infants and toddlers. Regulation is necessary to
provide basic standards concerning the health and safety of children in
family day care, but it does not ensure high quality care. Six effective
strategies for promoting high quality family day care are cited.
ED329331
NEA Standing Committee on Instruction and Professional Develop-
ment. 1990. Early Childhood Education and the Public Schools.
Washington, DC: National Education Association, Div. of Instruc-
tion and Professional Development. 19p.; available from: National
Education Association, 1201 Sixteenth Street, N.W., Washington,
DC 20036 (free). EDRS Price MF01/PC01 Plus Postage.
t. L.) 32
In this publication, the policy positions of the National Education
Association (NEA) on early childhood education in the public schools are
delineated. The NEA's proposals for early childhood program standards
are also offered. Sections of the publication concern: (1) characteristics of
the early childhood arena; (2) principles and standards of early childhood
programs in the public schools; and (3) NEA action at the national, state,
and local levels. The NEA believes that public schools should be a
primary provider of high quality early childhood education programs
designed to serve students from 3 to 8 years of age.
ED327340
Division of Instruction. 1985. Early Learning Support Network.
Baltimore, MD: Maryland State Dept. of Education, Baltimore.
5p.; For related documents, see PS 019 381-382. EDRS Price
MFO 1 /PC01 Plus Postage.
ED327339
Maryland State Dept. of Education. 1989. Standards for
Implementing Quality Prekindergarten Education: Guide to
Certification. Baltimore, MD: Author. 66p.; EDRS Price
MF01/PC03 Plus Postage.
33 :-
This document is intended to provide Maryland's public schools with the
information needed to initiate and pursue Maryland State Department of
Education (MSDE) certification of their prekindergarten programs. After
a brief introduction in section I, section II addresses the certification
process in terms of definition, overview, and steps in pursuing
certification. A description is provided of each of the six steps involved in
the certification process, including the internal program review steps of
orientation, self-appraisal, and program improvement, and the external
program review steps of documentation, validation, and certification.
Section III differentiates MSDE certification and National Association for
the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) accreditation, while section
IV describes the role of MSDE in the certification and accreditation
process. The document also provides the prekindergarten standards in the
form of an assessment instrument, so that schools can weigh the quality of
their prekindergarten programs against MSDE's Standards for
Implementing Quality Prekindergarten Education. Five appendices provide
a statement of philosophy;, the self-appraisal instrument, a self- appraisal
summary sheet, a form for verifying a validation visit, and a table
correlating MSDE prekindergarten standards and NAEYC criteria.
Citations number 85.
ED327338
Maryland State Dept. of Education. [1989]. Standards for
Implementing Quality Prekindergarten Education. Baltimore,
MD: Author. 44p.; EDRS Price MF01/PCO2 Plus Postage.
34
40
programs that meet standards of quality. An appendix lists the minimum
contents of a well-supplied library, reading/writing, mathematics,
housekeeping, grocery store, blocks, sand table, water table,
games/puzzles, and art learning centers in the prekindergarten classroom.
ED327320
Schweinhart, Lawrence J. 1988. A School Administrator's Guide
to Early Childhood Programs. Ypsilanti, MI: High/Scope
Educational Research Foundation. 88p.; available from:
High/Scope Educational Research Foundation, 600 North River
Street, Ypsilanti, MI 48198-2898 ($12.00). EDRS Price MF01
Plus Postage. PC Not Available from EDRS.
ED327292
Willer, Barbara, Ed. 1990. Reaching the Full Cost of Quality in
Early Childhood Programs. Washington, DC: National
Association for the Education of Young Children. 118p.; available
from: National Association for the Education of Young Children,
1834 Connecticut Avenue, N.W., Washington, DC 20009-5786
35
4 .k
(NAEYC Publication #137, $6.00). EDRS Price MF01 Plus
Postage. PC Not Available from EDRS.
ED324143
Office of Educational Research and Improvement. 1990.
Rethinking Excellence in Early Care and Education. Executive
Summary. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Education. 3p.;
For the full report reviewed here, see ED318550. Report No:
IS-90-986a. EDRS Price MF01/PC01 Plus Postage.
36
c,
programs. The neglected component of equality involves several kinds of
inequality in communities and states. These include segregation by in-
come, race, and stringency of regulation. Such segregation results from the
absence of federal standards. The unconsidered component of integrity
involves the linking of disparate parts in a field that is characterized by
acrimony and competition among providers. Concluding material des-
cribes three strategies that offer hope that the field can develop from
well-intentioned, piecemeal programs to comprehensive services. These
strategies involve moving from a program approach to a systems ap-
proach, from a piecemeal vision to an integrated vision, and from
short-term strategies to long-term thinking that confirms commitment to
young children by matching rhetoric with financial support.
ED323032
Whitebook, Marcy; And Others. 1989. Who Cares? Child Care
Teachers and the Quality of Care in America. Executive
Summary, National Child Care Staffing Study. Berkeley, CA:
Child Care Employee Project. 25p.; For the final report, see
ED323031. available from: Child Care Employee Project, 6536
Telegraph Avenue, A201, Oakland, CA 94609 ($10.00). EDRS
Price MFO I Plus Postage. PC Not Available from EDRS.
This national study explored the effects of teachers and their working
conditions on the caliber of center-based child care in the United States.
Study goals were to: (1) compare center-based child care services in 1988
with those of 1977; (2) examine relations among child care staff
characteristics, adult work environments, and quality of child care; and (3)
investigate differences in child care quality, child care staff, and adult
work environments in centers that varied with respect to standards,
accreditation status, auspices, and families served. Participants were 227
centers in five metropolitan areas: Atlanta (Georgia), Boston
(Massachusetts), Detroit (Michigan), Phoenix (Arizona), and Seattle
(Washington). Classroom observations and interviews with center directors
and staff provided data on center characteristics, program quality, and staff
qualifications, commitment, and compensation. In addition, child
assessments were conducted in Atlanta in an effort to examine effects of
varying program and staff attributes on children. Results are reported and
recommendations offered. It is concluded that the study raises serious
concerns about the quality of services many American children receive.
37
k
ED323031
Whitebook, Marcy; And Others. 1989. Who Cares? Child Care
Teachers and the Quality of Care in America. Final Report,
National Child Care Staffing Study. Berkeley, CA: Child Care
Employee Project. 191p.; For Executive Summary, see ED323030.
available from: Child Care Employee Project, 6536 Telegraph
Avenue, A201, Oakland, CA 94609 ($25.00). EDRS Price MF01
Plus Postage. PC Not Available from EDRS.
The National Child Care Staffing Study (NCCSS) was designed to explore
how child care teaching staff and their working conditions affect the
caliber of center-based child care. Four major policy questions were
addressed: (1) Who teaches in America's child care centers? (2) What do
they contribute to the quality of care provided? (3) Do centers that meet
or fail to meet nationally established quality guidelines, that operate under
different financial and legal auspices, and that serve families from different
socioeconomic backgrounds also differ in the quality of care offered to
children or the work environments offered to their staff? (4) How have
center-based child care services changed from 1977 to 1988? Participants
were 227 child care centers in 5 metropolitan areas: Atlanta (Georgia),
Boston (Massachusetts), Detroit (Michigan), Phoenix (Arizona), and
Seattle (Washington). Classroom observation and interviews with center
directors and staff provided data on center characteristics and program
quality, and on staff qualifications, commitment, and compensation. In
Atlanta, child assessments were also conducted to examine the effects on
children of such center and staff attributes as program quality and staff
training. Part I of this report describes the purpose, goals, and design of
the NCCSS. The six chapters of Part II concern child care teachers and the
quality of care in America. Part III describes variations across centers.
Part IV presents recommendations and a conclusion. Related materials,
including 55 references and a glossary, are appended.
ED323025
Maynard, Rebecca; And Others. 1990. Child Care Challenges for
Low-Income Families. The Minority Female Single Parent
Demonstration. Into the Working World Series. Lessons from
38
Research. New York: Rockefeller Foundation. 43p.; EDRS Price
- MF01/PCO2 Plus Postage.
The three papers in this briefing document provide guidance for planners
and program designers responding to the child care challenges of the
1990s. Rebecca Maynard explores the child care market for low-income
parents, finding that although family day care is plentiful in low-income
areas, child care centers operate at or near capacity, and neither family
day care providers nor centers report much capacity to care for more
infants. Ellen Eliason Kisker identifies five indicators of child care quality
that appear to have a positive influence on child development: small group
size; appropriately trained caregivers; stable child-caregiver relationships;
educationally oriented curricula; and high staff-child ratios. Stuart
Kerachsky maintains that implementation of the child care assistance
provided under the Family Support Act (FSA) will require attention to the
continuity and consistency of child care coverage, the method of
subsidization, and the procedures for matching care with the needs of
parents and children. Kerachsky also asserts that it is important to begin
thinking about what will happen to low-income working parents and their
children at the end of the year of transitional child care that the FSA
provides.
ED322998
Fiene, Richard. National Child Care Regulatory,
1986.
Monitoring and Evaluation Systems Model. 18p. Harrisburg,
PA: Pennsylvania State Dept. of Education. EDRS Price -
MF01/PC01 Plus Postage.
The relation between compliance with child care regulations and the
quality of day care programs is discussed, and predictors of child care
compliance are identified. Substantial compliance (90-97 percent, but not
a full 100 percent compliance with state day care regulations) positively
affects children. Low compliance (below 85 percent compliance) places
children at increased risk. A Generic Checklist for Child Care offers
predictors of child care compliance that state agencies should emphasize
in their monitoring of child care programs. Items on the checklist concern:
(1) director qualifications; (2) health appraisal; (3) supervision of children;
(4) adult/child ratios; (5) sufficient space; (6) emergency contact
information; (7) a hazard-free environment; (8) inaccessibility of toxic
39
materials; (9) nonhazardous equipment; (10) nutrition; (11) medication;
(12) transportation of children in a safety carrier; and (13) the orientation
of activities provided for children. Concluding remarks emphasize that
inasmuch as day care regulations alone will not ensure high quality child
care services for children, state agencies should use the Generic Checklist
in combination with other evaluation tools to monitor child care programs.
Benefits of using the checklist are noted.
ED322997
Fiene, Richard. 1986. State Child Care Regulatory, Monitoring
and Evaluation Systems as a Means for Ensuring Quality Child
Development Programs. Harrisburg, PA: Pennsylvania State
Office of Children, Youth and Families. 16p.; EDRS Price
MF01/PC01 Plus Postage.
ED321875
Kunesh, Linda G. 1990. Early Intervention for At-Risk Children
in the North Central Region: A Comparative Analysis of
40
Selected State Education Agencies' Policies. Executive
Summary. Elmhurst, IL: North Central Regional Educational Lab.
19p.; available from: North Central Regional Educational
Laboratory, 295 Emroy Avenue, Elmhurst, IL 60126 (Order
Number ECE-902, $2.50). EDRS Price MF01/PC01 Plus
Postage.
ED320703
Zoe, Lucinda R.; Kelly, Lynne S. 1988. Status of Child Care in
Kentucky: A Comparative Analysis of Regulations,
Expenditures, and Policies. Lexington, KY: Kentucky University
Center for Business and Economic Research. 115p.; available
from: Center for Business and Economic Research, University of
Kentucky, 301 Mathews Building, Lexington, KY 40506-0047
($8.00). EDRS Price MF01/PC05 Plus Postage.
41 47
the Kentucky Cabinet for Human Resources, and a thorough examination
of the literature on day care. Comparisons were based on data from the
adjacent states of Ohio, Tennessee, Virginia, North Carolina, and Indiana
as well as several states having model child care programs, such as
Massachusetts and Minnesota. Virginia and Massachusetts were included
partly because those commonwealths have governmental s aictures similar
to those of the Commonwealth of Kentucky. Two major areas of interest
emerged in the course of the study. One involves the shortage of child
care subsidies for poor women; the second involves the enhancement of
child day care availability for middle and lower income working families.
Chapter 1 includes background information and an overview of child care
as it has emerged as a social, economic, and business issue. Chapter 2
analyzes the specific issues related to child care and provides comparative
information from other states. Chapter 3 reviews policy and legislative
options and considerations. A bibliography provides 60 citations.
ED319523
Hayes, Cheryl D., Ed.; And Others. 1990. Who Cares for
America's Children? Child Care Policy for the 1990s. Panel on
Child Care Policy. Washington, DC: National Academy of
Sciences National Research Council. 362p.; available from:
National Academy Press, 2101 Constitution Avenue, N.W.,
Washington, DC 20418. EDRS Price MF01/PC15 Plus Postage.
42
Employer policies and benefit programs are also considered. Chapter 8
discusses tradeoffs between quality, availability, and affordability, and the
extent to which each of these qualities would be affected by proposed
policies. Chapter 9 outlines directions for future data collection and
research. Chapter 10 presents the Child Care Policy Panel's priorities for
future policy and program development. Appendices provide information
on state regulations for family day care and center care and professional
standards for early childhood programs. A total of 543 references are
cited.
ED319493
Southern Association on Children Under Six. 1990. Five Position
Statements of SACUS: (1) Employer Sponsored Child Care; (2)
Developmentally Appropriate Assessment; (3) Continuity of
Learning for Four-to-Seven-Year-old Children; (4) Quality
Child Care; (5) Multicultural Education. Little Rock, AR:
Southern Association on Children Under Six. 41p.; available from:
SACUS, P.O. Box 5403, Brady Station, Little Rock, AR 72215
(set of 5 papers, $1.00). EDRS Price - MF01 Plus Postage. PC
Not Available from EDRS.
43
multiethnic. The statement on employer- sponsored child care focuses on
the issues of who needs child care, why employers should care about child
care, what employers can do, and what the options for employer-supported
care are. Selected references are cited.
ED319485
Joint Economic Committee. The Economic and Social Benefits of
Early Childhood Education. Hearing before the Subcommittee on
Education and Health of the Joint Economic Committee, Congress
of the United States. One Hundred First Congress, First Session.
Joint Economic Committee, Washington, D.C. 1 May 1989 132p.
Report No.: Senate-Hrg-101-298. Available from: Superintendent
of Documents, Congressional Sales Office, U.S. Government
Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402 (Stock No.
552-070-07164-4, $3.75). EDRS Price MF01/PC06 Plus Postage.
ED318580
Kagan, Sharon L. 1990. Excellence in Early Childhood
Education: Defining Characteristics and Next-Decade
Strategies. Policy Perspectives Series. Washington, DC: Office
44
of Educational Research and Improvement. 36p. Report No:
IS-90-986. available from: Superintendent of Documents, U.S.
Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402 (Stock No.
065-000-00415-1, $1.75). EDRS Price M f01/ PCO2 Plus
Postage.
Considering that the field of American early childhood education and care
is at the brink of a major shift in how it views its mission, this paper
provides policy-makers with ways to help understand the emergent
situation, to define excellence in early education and care, and to plan a
stra!egy to improve provision of services. A glance toward the past
indicates dimensions of the changing climate in the field, focusing on the
history of fragmentation among programs with limited scope, antecedents
of the perceptual shift regarding the field, and, briefly, the need for broad
agreement on how to reorganize the delivery system. A first step toward
developing a preliminary consensus proposes three elements of a definition
of excellence in early education and care: (1) the production of high
quality programming that takes into account research findings on and
between behavioral and environmental variables; (2) the clarification of
equality in the context of early childhood programs; and (3) the
development of an integrated system to obtain efficiencies of operation and
economies of scale. A second step, from fragmented delivery systems
toward a system providing comprehensive, improved services, offers three
strategies for change. Strategies contrast thinking in terms of a program
model, particulars, and the short-term, with planning more systemically,
universally, and for the long haul. Fifty-seven references are cited.
ED317277
Demmert, William G., Jr. 1992. Rethinking and Restructuring
Alaska's Primary Schools: Kindergarten Through Fourth
Grade. Alaska State Office of the Commissioner, Juneau. 22p.;
EDRS Price MFOI/PC01 Plus Postage.
45 )5
program, including language development; home language as the initial
language of instruction; whole language; developmental appropriateness (in
the areas of curriculum, teaching strategies, social and emotional
development, parent/teacher relations, and student evaluation); culturally
appropriate developmental activities; community-based primary schools;
and smaller class size. Appendices provide the National Association for the
Education of Young Children's profiles of appropriate and inappropriate
education in the primary grades, and a chart of how parent/child
interaction affects student achievement.
ED317270
Fiene, Richard; Melnick, Steven A. 1990. Licensure and
Program Quality in Early Childhood and Child Care
Programs. 21p.; Paper presented at the Annual Convention of the
American Educational Research Association (Boston, MA, April
16-20, 1990). For an earlier version of this paper, see ED 308
978. EDRS Price MF01/PC01 Plus Postage.
n
46
ED317261
Policy Options Support of Children and Families.
in
Proceedings of the National Conference on Early Childhood
Issues (Washington, D.C., November 17-18, 1988). 1988.
Washington, DC: Department of Education. 63p.; EDRS Price -
MF01/PC03 Plus Postage.
The purpose of this national policy conference was to discuss key issues
and policy options in the care and education of young children, and to
identify policy recommendations. At the conference, 116 speakers shared
their expertise with each other and an additional 300 participants from 38
states. Speakers and participants represented a broad range of views on
trends and issues in early childhood education. Plenary sessions featured
debates about the role of government in supporting families, the extent of
need for child care, the upcoming legislative agenda, and the costs and
benefits of early childhood programs for disadvantaged children. Conferees
addren,sed issues such as continuity, comprehensiveness, quality variations
in child care and education, infant care, early childhood curricula, testing
of young children, staffing, the role of the public schools in providing
child care and early childhood education, and parental involvement in
early childhood programs. Policy options such as tax credits, parental
leave, regulation of child care, and welfare reform programs were also
considered. The text focuses on deliberations in the plenary and concurrent
sessions. Appendix A describes programs featured in showcase sessions,
and Appendix B includes a list of plenary and concurrent sessions.
ED316335
Spring, Michelle P. 1990. Just in Case...Parental Guidelines in
Case You Are Considering Daycare. Arlington, VA: National
Center for Missing and Exploited Children. 8p.; available from:
National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, Publications
Department, 2101 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 550, Arlington, VA
22201 (free). EDRS Price MFOI/PC01 Plus Postage.
Guidelines are offered for parents considering placing their children in day
care. Contents concern: (1) information on finding high-quality day care
providers; (2) safety tips for children in day care; (3) ways of detecting
sexual abuse and exploitation; and (4) what to do if a child discloses acts
of abuse and exploitation in the day care center.
47 L.: r-N
a
ED316313
Ford Foundation. 1989. Early Childhood Services: A National
Challenge. A Program Paper of the Ford Foundation. New
York: Author. 45p.; available from: Ford Foundation, Office of
Communications, 320 East 43 Street, New York, NY 10017 (free
of charge). EDRS Price - MF01 Plus Postage. PC Not Available
from EDRS.
This program paper discusses the growing need for early childhood
services, describes public and private efforts to address the issue, and
outlines related plans of the Ford Foundation in 1989. After describing
changes in the work force and benefits of child care programs, contents
focus on: (1) programs parents now use; (2) present funding patterns; (3)
the quality of services; (4) the supply of services, regarding the schools,
private- public partnerships, family support services, and resource and
referral agencies; (5) past support of the Ford Foundation; and (6)
proposed Ford Foundation funding. The foundation's funding plan consists
of three main components, which will be implemented over a 3- to 5-year
period. The first entails support for research, policy analysis, and
information dissemination to assist policy and program development at the
national, state, and local levels. The second funds the design,
implementation, and evaluation of demonstration projects aimed at
increasing the supply of family day care for infants and toddlers. The third
involves support for the development, implementation, and evaluation of
training to enhance the quality of all types of programs. Each component
is discussed. A total of 35 references are cited, and 41 Ford Foundation
grants for early childhood programs from 1983 through 1988 are listed,
by grantee, title (including duration and starting date), and amount.
ED315187
Smart Start: The Community Collaborative for Early
Childhood Development Report Together with Minority Views
(To Accompany S. 123). Senate, 101st Congress, 1st
Session.Kennedy, Edward M. 21 Jun 1988. Washington, DC:
Congress of the U.S., Senate Committee on Labor and Human
Resources. 63p. Report No.: Senate-R-101-58. EDRS Price
MF01/PC03 Plus Postage.
48
The majority report and minority views of the Senate Committee on Labor
and Human Resources concerning S. 123, Smart Start: The Community
Collaborative for Early Childhood Development Act of 1989 are provided.
The act would establish a new source of funding for upgrading,
expanding, and creating high quality early childhood development (ECD)
programs for children the year before they enter kindergarten. Smart Start
is designed to build on what states are already doing in early childhood
education (ECE) and to give states an incentive to keep programs running
as the federal share of funds declines. Sections concern: (1) the act's
purpose and a summary of the act; (2) legislative history; (3) background
and need for legislation; (4) committee views; (5) the vote in committee;
(6) cost estimate; (7) regulatory impact statement; (8) section-by-section
analysis; (9) changes in existing law; and (10) minority views. The
extensive background and rationale in Section III cover research on the
effect of ECE programs, recommendations of education reform reports and
policy statements of major education organizations regarding ECE, current
federal ECE programs, recent state initiatives in ECE, and the legislative
response. Minimum standards for participation in the federal program are
specified.
ED315165
Nunnelley, Jeanette C.; Greyer, Elizabeth A. 1989. Child Day
Care in Kentucky: A Survey of All Licensed Facilities.
Louisville, KY: Louisville and Jefferson County Community
Coordinated Child Care. 46p.; EDRS Price MF01/PCO2 Plus
Postage.
49
5
-
ED315160
Michigan State Board of Education. 1987. The Standards of
Quality and Curriculum Guidelines for Preschool Programs for
Four Year Olds. (Revised Edition). Lansing, MI: Author. 83p.;
EDRS Price MFO1 /PC04 Plus Postage.
ED315159
Michigan State Board of Education. [1988]. Curriculum Resource
Book for Preschool Programs for Four Year Olds. Lansing, MI:
Author. 74p. 534. EDRS Price - MFOI/PC03 Plus Postage.
t_-,
50
1_4 il
curriculum, acquisition of concepts through manipulation of objects, use
of various methods and techniques to present concepts, activities that
challenge and lead to success, developmental sequencing of activities,
individualized instruction, incorporation of children's interests into the
program, and enhancement of children's critical thinking. Suggested
activities are supplemented by examples. Attachments to standards D and
F concern play and play schedules, equipment, floor plans, and play
spaces. Nearly 90 references to literature on early childhood education and
reading are cited.
ED315143
Senate Committee on Labor and Human Resources. 24 Jan 1989.
Act for Better Child Care Services of 1989. Hearing on S.5, To
Provide for a Federal Program for the Improvement of Child
Care, and for Other Purposes, before the Subcommittee on
Children, Family, Drugs and Alcoholism of the Committee on
Labor and Human Resources. United States Senate, One
Hundred First Congress, First Session. Washington, DC: Congress
of the U.S. 179p.; For parallel House hearing, see PS 017 773.
Report No: Senate-Hrg-101-135. available from: Superintendent of
Documents, Congressional Sales Office, U.S. Government Printing
Office, Washington, DC 20402 (Stock No. 552-070-06585-7,
$5.50; limited copies available). EDRS Price MF01/PC08 Plus
Postage.
A hearing was held to consider the Act for Better Child Care Services of
1989, also known as the ABC Bill. Testimony was received from parents,
project directors, program Managers, academics, research directors,
corporate officers, the Governors of Vermont and Maryland, the
Lieutenant Governor of Wisconsin, and the U.S. Senators of Maryland.
Content concerned the roles of business and state and federal governments
in day care, support of and need for the ABC Bill, state initiatives,
funding options, major policy obstacles that prevent consensus on child
care legislation, Senator Wilson's Kids in Daycare Services Act (KIDS),
child abuse and neglect by licensed child caregivers, costs of high quality
programs, caregivers' views on the needs of family day care providers, the
impact of high quality care on children's development, corporate
experience in facilitating high quality care, the U.S. Army's standards for
51 "
day care services, liability insurance protection, the relationship of
licensure to the incidence of child abuse in day care settings, and parental
preference for various types of services. Included in the hearing report is
a summary of major provisions of the Wilson KIDS bill.
ED314185
Fiene, Richard; Melnick, Steven A. 1989. Program Quality and
Licensure in Day Care Centers and Family Day Care Homes.
37p.; EDRS Price MF01/PCO2 Plus Postage.
ED314170
Sword, Jeane, Ed. 1986. Quality Programs for Children and
Families: Multiple Perspectives. (6th, Duluth, Minnesota,
October 3-4, 1986). Duluth, MN: Minnesota Univ., Duluth. Dept.
of Child and Family Development. 58p. EDRS Price -
MF01/PC03 Plus Postage.
r.; 52
perspectives on high quality programs for children and families. The
keynote address, given by Bettye Caldwell, concerned marketing quality
programs for children, exploring internal and external deterrents,
communicating with targeted market segments, formulating messages, and
completing a plan of action. Sectional presentations concerned the role of
the interactive videodisc in early childhood teacher education, the process
of enhancing creativity in early childhood, the reciprocal link in work
family systems, the process of informing parents about early writing, the
challenge of working with fathers, practical principles and skills related to
building self-esteem in children, development of preschool music
programs, and parental singing during pregnancy and infancy as a way of
developing positive bonding and the human intelligences. An index of
presenters and their addresses is included.
ED313166
Monroe, Marian. 1989. Evaluation of Purchased Day Care:
Texas Department of Human Services Day Care Service
Control Pilot Study, 1985 through 1989. Austin, TX: Texas
State Dept. of Human Services, Austin. 446p.; EDRS Price
MF01/PC18 Plus Postage.
This pilot study of facilities from which the Texas Department of Human
Services (TDHS) purchased day care services gathered and analyzed data
for use in developing day care service control standards by means of
which the quality of purchased day care services could be systematically
assessed. Random samples were selected from contract centers, broker
centers, provider agreement centers, group day homes, provider agreement
family day homes, contract family day homes, and broker family day
homes. Although the TDHS had purchase arrangements with 1,220
facilities, actual samples included 507 centers, 6 group day homes, and
199 family day homes. Data included about 220 discrete items for family
day homes and 500 discrete items for centers and group day homes.
Questions asked were: (1) What are the operational characteristics of the
facility? (2) How do facilities perform on generally accepted indicators of
quality that have been written into service control standards? (3) By
specified ages of children, how do centers and group day homes perform
on measures of group size, daily activities, and physical environment? and
(4) How does performance on measures of quality relate to the facility
type, size, and purchase type? The report provides an introduction,
53
background, review of literature, discussion of methodology, findings,
summary, discussion, and implications. Over 200 tables of data, measures,
and other information are appended. About 100 references are cited.
ED313164
Nebraska State Dept. of Education. 1989. Indicators of Quality:
Guiding the Development and Improvement of Early Childhood
Education Programs in Nebraska. Lincoln, NB: Author. 31p.
EDRS Price MF01/PCO2 Plus Postage.
ED31415
Betsalel-Presser, Raquel; And Others. 1989. Child Care Quality
and Children's Transition to Kindergarten. Research Bulletins,
1989-90, Vol. VIII, No. 009. Montreal, Quebec: Concordia Univ.
Centre for Research in Human Development. 25p.; EDRS Price
MF01/PC01 Plus Postage.
This report investigates the relationship between child care quality and
children's transition into kindergarten. It focuses on four issues: (1) the
definition and measurement of child care quality in group settings; (2) the
relationship between child care quality and child development; (3) the
relationship between child care quality and transition to school; and (4)
teachers' perceptions of the day care child's transition to kindergarten.
54
Transition from day care to kindergarten depends on the continuity among
the environments that preschoolers are exposed to during childhood.
High-quality day care experience may facilitate transition, while
low-quality day care experience may prepare the child to anticipate a
similar experience in kindergarten and thus give the child a negative
attitude towards school learning. Includes a list of 38 references.
ED309867
Child Development Division. 1988. Center-Based Preschool-Age
Program Quality Review Instrument. Sacramento, CA:
California State Dept. of Education. 26p.; Report No:
ISBN-0-8011-0763-6. available from: Bureau of Publications Sales,
California State Department of Education, P.O. Box 271,
Sacramento, CA 95802-0271 ($2.00; California residents must add
sales tax). EDRS Price MF01 Plus Postage. PC Not Available
from EDRS.
ED309866
Child Development Division. 1988. Family Child Care Program
Quality Review Instrument. Sacramento, CA: California State
Dept. of Education. 18p.; Report No: ISBN-0-8011-0764-4.
available from: Bureau of Publications Sales, California State
55
Department of Education, P.O. Box 271, Sacramento, CA
95802-0271 ($2.00; California residents must add sales tax). EDRS
Price MFOI Plus Postage. PC Not Available from EDRS.
ED309865
Child Development Division. 1988. Infant and Toddler Program
Quality Review Instrument. Sacramento, CA: California State
Dept. of Education. 31p.; Report No: ISBN-0-8011-0767-9.
available from: Bureau of Publications Sales, California State
Department of Education, P.O. Box 271, Sacramento, CA
95802-0271 ($2.00; California residents must add sales tax). EDRS
Price MF01 Plus Postage. PC Not Available from EDRS.
This program quality review instrument for California's infant and toddler
programs focuses on seven functional program components. Components
include: (1) philosophy, goals, and objectives; (2) administration; (3)
maintenance of a developmental profile on each infant and toddler; (4)
provision of a developmental program; (5) parent education and
involvement; (6) community resources and involvement; and (7) program
evaluation. In assessing the developmental program, the review instrument
focuses on the nature of the learning environment; the caregiver's
influence on the environment; health, nutrition, language and
56
communication; and emotional, social, physical, cognitive, and creative
development. Programs are assessed using indicators and items specified
within the functional components, and are rated excellent, good, adequate,
or inadequate. If inadequate, programs are required to submit a program
improvement plan within 30 days of the program quality review.
ED308978
Fiene, Richard; Melnick, Steven A. 1989. Licensure and
Program Quality in Child Care and Early Childhood
Programs. 16p. Harrisburg, PA: Pennsylvania State Dept. of
Public Welfare. EDRS Price MF01/PC01 Plus Postage.
ED308973
Thomason, Nita. 1989. A Study of Child Care in Richardson,
Texas. 16p.; EDRS Price MF01/PC01 Plus Postage.
57
concerning their perceptions of child care in Richardson. Findings revealed
a disparity between the child care centers and the preschools in the areas
of worker training and curriculum. The absence of programs for
low-income families underlined a great disparity in access to programs
serving children who lived near or below the poverty level.
ED308020
Whitebook, Marcy, Comp.; And Others. [1989]. Working for
Quality Child Care: An Early Childhood Education Text from
the Child Care Employee Project. Berkeley, CA: Child Care
Employee Project. 228p.; available from: The Child Care
Employee Project, P.O. Box 5603, Berkeley, CA 94705 ($10.00).
EDRS Price MF01 Plus Postage. PC Not Available from EDRS.
This early childhood education text was designed to help students and child
care staff become effective advocates for the improvement of quality,
salaries, and working conditions in child care programs. Unit I provides
literature on the issues affecting the child care field and focuses cn
strategies to improve salaries and working conditions. Articles on the
teacher shortage, the impact of high staff turnover on children, and
employer-supported child care contribute to a picture of current child care.
Unit II covers: (1) state and federal labor laws; (2) substitutes and in-home
caregivers; (3) strategies for improving relationships among staff and
between parents and staff; (4) the special stresses of various kinds of child
care; (5) the health and safety concerns of child care staff; and (6) unions.
Unit III provides information on salary schedules, health coverage, and
pension plans. Also considered are various center policies, such as those
regarding personnel, substitute and volunteer procedures, and evaluation,
and ways to implement these policies. An instructor's guide outlines
learning objectives and offers suggestions for class discussion and activities
for each part of each unit. Organizational and information resources are
listed.
ED307966
Senate Committee on Labor and Human Resources. 1 Aug 1988.
Act for Better Child Care Services of 1988. Report from the
Committee on Labor and Human Resources Together with
Additional Views (To Accompany S. 1885). 100th Congress, 2nd
Session. Washington, DC: Congress of the U.S. 100p.; Calendar
58
No. 906. Report No: Senate-R- 100-484. EDRS Price
MF01/PC04 Plus Postage.
The Act for Better Child Care Services of 1988, additional views of
members of the United States Senate, and related materials are reported.
The purpose of the Act is to increase the availability, affordability, and
quality of child care throughout the nation. The legislation provides direct
financial assistance to low-income and working families to help them find
and afford quality child care services for their children. The act also
contains provisions designed to enhance the quality and increase the supply
of child care available to all parents, including those who receive no direct
financial assistance under the act. The report also provides background
information, rationale, and history of the legislation; a list of hearings on
the bill; votes in committee; a cost estimate; and a regulatory impact
statement. It is the view of the Committee on Labor and Human Resources
that the Federal Government's most crucial role is to strengthen the child
care infrastructure in the United States to improve the quality of services
and make them more available and more affordable than they are at
present.
ED305179
Granger, Robert C.; Marx, Elisabeth. 1988. Who Is Teaching?
Early Childhood Teachers in New York City's Publicly Funded
Programs. New York: Bank Street Coll. of Education. 104p.
EDRS Price MF01/PC05 Plus Postage.
New York City's publicly funded day care and Head Start systems are
hindered by an inability to recruit and retain qualified teachers. Data
supporting this conclusion came from a randomly drawn sample of 559
teachers working with 3- to 5-year-olds in New York City's early
childhood programs. Teachers were surveyed by mail, and a subset of
respondents was interviewed by telephone. Data collection was designed
to permit a comparison among teachers in the public schools, publicly
funded day care, and Head Start on demographic characteristics. Major
findings indicated that: (1) as many as 42 percent of the teacher positions
in publicly funded day care, and 33 percent of teacher positions in Head
Start, are either vacant or turn over each year; (2) only 50 percent of
teachers in publicly funded day care and Head Start meet the desired
standard of full certification; (3) when teachers rate aspects of their jobs,
59
they are least satisfied with salary and professional prestige; (4) Head Start
teachers are particularly dissatisfied with fringe benefits; (5) teachers rate
improvements in status and compensation as the strategies most likely to
improve the recruitment and retention of qualified staff; and (6) teachers
rate themselves as more likely to shift to another classroom than to leave
the profession. Policy recommendations are offered. Nearly 50 references
are cited, and related materials are appended, including comparative tables
on wages/benefits and credentials, as well as one version of the survey
instrument.
ED305153
Council of Chief State School Officers 1988. Early Childhood &
Family Education: Foundations for Success. Washington, DC,
Author. lip.; EDRS Price MF01 Plus Postage. PC Not
Available from EDRS.
ED304238
Castro, Terry; And Others. 1988. Child Care: Today's Challenge
for Tomorrow. A Comprehensive Plan for the Growth and
Development of Child Care in the State of New Jersey. Trenton,
NJ: New Jersey State Child Care Advisory Council. 179p.; EDRS
Price MF01/PC08 Plus Postage.
New Jersey's first comprehensive plan for the development of child care
services is presented in this report. Section I offers an overview of
60
contemporary issues that are central to the provision of child care services.
Issues include the status of child care in New Jersey and the concerns
raised by parents, advocates, and providers in child care hearings and
conferences, which began in 1984 and will continue to 2000. Contents
focus on availability, affordability, and accessibility of services; quality of
care; regulation and subsidization of the system; the profession of child
care; parental role and responsibilities; and ways to meet the unique needs
of families. Section II explains the seven findings and 43 recommendations
which evolved from analysis of the material. Explicit strategies for
implementation are outlined whenever possible. Discussion follows the
sequence of issues presented in the first section. A child care plan fiscal
summary for fiscal year 1989 is included. Section III offers conclusions.
A total of 36 references are cited.
ED303263
Armga, Carol Joan. 1987. Demographic and Professional
Dimensions of Chiid Care Providers. 124p.; Master's Thesis,
Utah State University. Some pages in appendices contain small
print. EDRS Price MF01/PC05 Plus Postage.
61 67
ED303255
Jorde-Bloom, Paula. 1988. The Training and Qualifications of
Child Care Center Directors. 28p.; Paper presented at the
National Conference on Early Childhood Issues: Policy Options in
Support of Children and Families (Washington, DC, November
17-18, 1988). EDRS Price - MF01/PCO2 Plus Postage.
This paper provides an overview of many issues related to the training and
qualifications of early childhood center directors. The overview first
covers competencies needed for effective center administration in the areas
of: (1) organization and leadership; (2) child development and early
childhood programming; (3) fiscal and legal issues; and (4) board, parent,
and community relations. Subsequent discussion summarizes state
regulations that govern minimum qualifications, and presents a profile of
predominant characteristics of early childhood center directors. Also
considered are the link between qualifications or directors and indices of
program quality, and policy implications of increasing minimum
qualifications. In addition, the paper provides a rationale for increasing the
requisite skill and knowledge base of center directors, and details the
economic and social ramifications of implementing such policies. It is
concluded that the manner in which states respond will not only affect the
quality of program services provided in the future, but also the ability of
the field to attract and retain competent and dedicated professionals.
ED303242
Currie, Charlotte E. 1988. Current Trends in Public School
Kindergarten: Full Days and Four-Year-Olds. Research Report.
17p.; EDRS Price MF01/PC01 Plus Postage.
62
consists of full or half days, in the long run, the quality of the program
must be the primary concern.
ED303241
Wardle, Francis. [1988]. Ideas for Infant and Toddler
Environments. 13p.; EDRS Price MF01/PC01 Plus Postage.
ED301315
Mainini, Charles S.; Lindauer, Shelley L. Knudsen. 1988. A
Handbook for Prospective Child Care Providers on How To
Establish a Center and Maintain High Standards of Quality.
Logan, UT: Utah State University, Dept. of Family and Human
Development. 107p.; EDRS Price MF01/PC05 Plus Postage.
This handbook serves as a guide for novice day care administrators and
owners who want to establish a center, and for experienced providers who
want to improve the quality of their programs. Information in the
handbook was obtained through a survey of accredited centers. The three
sections of the guide focus on child care in the 1980s, establishment of a
child care center, and quality in the child care setting. Five chapters in
section one provide an introduction, followed by discussions of effects of
substitute child care, components of a high quality center, the project to
obtain information from 24 centers in western states that were accredited
by the National Academy of Early Childhood Programs, and the project
methodology. Three chapters in section two focus on preliminary
decisions, educational philosophy, and staffing concerns. The single
chapter in section three deals with improving the quality of programming.
A total of 14 pages of references and bibliographic citations are provided,
63
along with appended related materials, including the questionnaire that was
used to gather information for the project. r
ED300115
Honig, Alice Sterling. 1988. Quality Infant/Toddler Caregiving.
6p.; Paper presented at the National Conference of the Australian
Early Childhood Association (Canberra, Australia, September
1988). EDRS Price MF01/PC01 Plus Postage.
ED296809
Willer, Barbara. 1987. Quality or Affordability: Trade-Offs for
Early Childhood Programs? ERIC Digest. Urbana, IL: ERIC
Clearinghouse on Elementary and Early Childhood Education. 3p.;
EDRS Price MF01/PC01 Plus Postage.
The demand for child care services in the United States continues to grow,
stretching the levels of program quality to the limit. In fact, the country
is facing a crisis in child care. Affordable child care continues to be a
major issue for many families. Solutions to the current crisis in child care
must, in addition to insuring affordability, assure (1) the quality of
64
programs; (2) adequate compensation for teachers; and (3) availability to
all families. Many families are unable to afford the cost of child care;
subsidies to these families would allow them access to quality programs.
To fight the problem of high turnover rate among child care workers,
substantial increases in wages and benefits are necessary. Licensing of
early childhood programs is another important issue, and parents need to
work with states to monitor program quality without hindering availability.
An integrated approach to dealing with the day care crisis is essential;
there can be no trade-offs between quality and affordability.
ED295730
House Committee on Government Operations. 11 Sep 1987.
Meeting the Need for Child Care: Problems and Progress.
Hearing before a Subcommittee of the Committee on Government
Operations. House of Representatives, One Hundredth Congress,
First Session. Washington, DC: Congress of the U. S. 277p.;
available from: Superintendent of Documents, Congressional Sales
Office, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402
(Stock No. 552-070-036-74-1, $8.50). EDRS Price MF01/PC12
Plus Postage.
65
face; (15) California's regulatory program for child care services; (16)
employment trends and their relation to workers' child care needs; (17)
child care issues affecting blacks; and (18) child care initiatives of the
David and Lucile Packard Foundation.
ED292546
Child Care Centers in Park Settings. Child Care Management
Resources.; Elicker (John B.) Architects, Columbia, MD.;
Giegerich & Associates, Inc., Rockville, MD. Oct 1987. 160p.;
For related documents, see PS 017 217-218.available from:
Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission, 8787
Georgia Avenue, Silver Spring, MD 20910 ($5.00). EDRS Price
MFOUPC07 Plus Postage.
ED289586
Honig, Alice S. 1987. Choosing a Quality Child Care Center:
Help for Parents. 14p.; EDRS Price MF01/PC01 Plus Postage.
66
with body snuggling; (2) caregivers arrange safe, interesting learning
experiences; (3) caregivers are keen observers; (4) child health and safety
needs are met; (5) teachers encourage competency; (6) language games
and book reading are daily activities for all ages; (7) caregivers know how
to recognize "the teachable moment" and use it; (8) caregivers are
sensitive to the rhythms and tempos of each child; (9) lots of sturdy toys
and equipment are available; (10) music, art, and drama activities are
appreciated and offered to children; (11) adults have sufficient energy for
working with little children; (12) curriculum and program are planned and
plans are available; (13) the program is flexible; (14) caregivers are
positive role models; (15) parents are considered partners of the center,
not nuisances; (16) caregivers are good "matchmakers" and "dance
developmental ladders" well; (17) the child-care facility is tuned into
community resources; (18) caregivers continue to learn about child
development; (19) caregivers know and use a lot of positive discipline
techniques; and, (20) the environment feels happy. A brief explanation of
each item is provided.
ED288635
Siska, Heather Smith. 1985. Health and Safety in the Preschool.
Together for Children: Cooperative Preschools. India-napolis,
IN: Parent Cooperative Preschools International. 32p.; Printed on
colored paper. EDRS Price MF01/PCO2 Plus Postage.
The intent of this manual is to present health and safety standards and
procedures for the special environment of cooperative preschools, where
both teacher-supervisors and parents are present and responsible for the
well-being of the children. After a brief discussion about meeting
environmental standards, child health is investigated in terms of general
considerations, immunization, exceptional children, consultants, allergies
and medications, and unusual circumstances. Child illness is subsequently
discussed in terms of general considerations, communicable diseases, and
recuperation. Health and illness of teacher-supervisors and parents are also
discussed. Concluding the discussion of health are sections on exposure of
children to good health habits; pets in the classroom; and parent education.
Safety is considered in terms of principles, legal responsibilities, insurance
coverage, and, extensively, safety standards. Standards concern
supervision; conduct of children; indoor and outdoor facilities; equipment
and its use; clothing; food; harmful supplies; pets; transporting children;
67
parking lots; accidents; fire; civil defense; and parent education.
Appendices provide a guide to constructing a first aid kit; a list of
recommended texts on basic first aid; and a reprint of an article
concerning preparation for accidental injuries.
ED288625
Honig, Alice Sterling. 1987. Quality Infant/Toddler Caregiving:
Are There Magic Recipes? 15p.; Pa- presented at a Teacher
Conference of the Lomas and Nettleton Child Care Center (Dallas,
TX, September 25, 1987). EDRS Price - MF01/PC01 Plus
Postage.
ED287565
Willer, Barbara A. 1987. The Growing Crisis in Child Care:
Quality, Compensation, and Affordability in Early Childhood
Programs. 52p.; available from: National Association for the
Education of Young Children, 1834 Connecticut Avenue, N.W.,
Washington, DC 10009 ($5.00). Document Not Available EDRS.
'
68
This document examines the three basic needs that are currently causing
a crisis in child care, namely, the needs for (1) quality programs for
children; (2) adequate compensation for teachers; and (3) affordable
services for families. The problems of recruitment and retention of staff
and funding for child care programs are discussed. Strategies to address
the needs involved with child care programs are considered. These
include: (1) educating the public and the funders; (2) getting more money
into the child care system; and (3) using available financial resources to
their utmost advantage. A list of resources designed to provide assistance
in the implementation of strategies is included.
ED286625
Massachusetts Governor's Office. 1987. Partnerships for Day
Care: Final Report of the Governor's Day Care Partnership
Initiative. Boston, MA: Author. 89p.; Photographs may not
reproduce clearly. EDRS Price MF01/PC04 Plus Postage.
The four sections of this final report, which follow the initial executive
summary, present outcomes of Massachusetts' 2-year effort to strengthen
and expand high quality, affordable day care services. Section I focuses
on the supply of and demand for day care services in the state. Section II
explores aspects of public and private partnerships, ways cities and towns
can support day care, the role of public schools in providing day care, the
Commonwealth as employer, and the establishment of child care resource
and referral agencies. Section III discusses resource and referral services
for parents and providers, state training initiatives, improved wages for
day care workers, staff qualifications and day care center regulations, the
process of improving health awareness in day care, the strengthening of
family day care, regulations for school-age child care, and liability in-
surance. Section IV concerns the cost of high quality care, the central role
of child care in the success of the Employment and Training CHOICES
program for recipients of public aid, subsidized day care for working
families, and aspects of the development of new partnerships for affor-
dable day care. Related materials, including lists of individuals involved
in the initiative, diagrams of the state government's role in day care in
1987, and a table indicating state spending for day care from 1985 through
1987, are appended.
69 fi
ED284656
Vandell, Deborah Lowe; And Others. 1987. A Follow-Up Study
of Children in Excellent, Moderate, and Poor Quality Day
Care. 30p.; An abbreviated version of this paper was presented at
the Biennial Meeting of the Society for Research in Child
Development (Baltimore, MD, April 23-26, 1987). EDRS Price
MF01/PCO2 Plus Postage.
70
measure of social class was formed by summing mother's and father's
education and occupation levels. Relationships were found between
dimensions of environmental quality and children's absorption in solitary
play and knowledge of social problem solving. Most of these relationships
held up after the effects of social class were statistically removed.
ED277471
Snow, Catherine, Ed. 1986. Special Report of the Governor's
Task Force on Day Care. Nashville, TN: Tennessee Governor's
Task Force on Day Care. 63p.; Photographs may not reproduce
well. EDRS Price MF01/PC03 Plus Postage.
In response to the growing need for day care in Tennessee, the Governor's
Task Force on Day Care was appointed :o encourage the development of
more and better day care opportunities for the children of working parents.
Three committees were established to develop recommendations. The
Access to Day Care Committee identified the types of day care in short
supply and recommended ways to improve the availability and accessibility
of care. The Quality of Day Care Committee examined issues related to
quality including parent involvement, provider training, and standards of
care; and developed recommendations on ways to improve the quality of
day care. The Employer Support for Day Care Committee developed ways
to encourage more awareness about day care among employers and more
support for day care in industry and small business. Following an
executive summary and introduction to the report, day care services in
Tennessee are described in terms of availability and type of day care, and
the role of the state government. Then, each committee's recommendations
are presented, along with general background information, findings, and
supporting material. The specific agencies and groups responsible for the
implementation of the recommendations are indicated in the appendices.
Agency, department, and staff liaison to the task force are also listed in
the appendices.
ED275434
Ad lin, Sheryl. 1985. The Governor's Day Care Partnership
Project. Final Report. Massachusetts Governor's Office, Boston.
46p.; EDRS Price MF01/PCO2 Plus Postage.
71
Constituting a comprehensive child care policy, 30 recommendations are
presented with an aim to increase the supply of affordable, high quality
day care in Massachusetts. "Quality," defined as "services meeting
children's developmental needs," is the critical component and underlying
theme of each recommendation. This document provides an executive
summary of 17 major recommendations, a list of individuals participating
in the development of the recommendations, and the complete report. The
recommendations form the foundation and framework for the development
of a strong community-based delivery system supported by public/private
partnerships. Introductory sections discuss the need for affordable, high
quality day care in terms of family economic self-sufficiency, continued
economic growth, the importance of quality, the lack of supply, and the
state government's role. To illustrate a possible outcome of the policy, day
care as envisioned in 1989 in one Massachusetts community is briefly
described. The major portion of the report delineates the day care
recommendations, accompanying rationale, and guidelines for
implementation in four sections concerned with resource development,
quality, affordability, and policy coordination and implementation.
Appended are recommendations for the implementation of a
comprehensive training model and changes in licensing regulations
regarding center staff and family day care provider qualifications.
ED275402
Katz, Lilian G. 1986. Professionalism, Child Development, and
Dissemination: Three Papers. Urbana, IL: ERIC Clearinghouse
on Elementary and Early Childhood Education. 81p.; EDRS Price
MF01/PC04 Plus Postage.
Three papers have been collected dealing with basic aspects of early
childhood education: professionalism, child development, and knowledge
dissemination. The first paper, "The Nature of Professions: Where Is
Early Childhood Education?" applies eight main features of the concept of
a profession to the current state of the art of early childhood education
including social necessity, altruism, autonomy, a code of ethics, distance
from clients, standards of practice, prolonged training, and specialized
knowledge. The second paper, "Current Perspectives on Child
Development," highlights aspects of development that seem to have fairly
clear implications for pedagogical and curriculum decisions. Topics are
presented in the form of broad general principles that seem to apply to
r 72
many aspects of child growth and behavior: optimum influences; the
recursive cycle of development; and the development of dispositions,
particularly the disposition to become interested and motivated to learn.
The third paper, "Issues in the Dissemination of Child Development
Knowledge," describes five issues related to the dissemination of
information in general as well as information about child development in
particular. Issues are related to the information flow; the Conceptual scope
of the ideas presented; the vividness of the presentation; the timeliness of
ccncepts; and the orientations to knowledge characteristic of the
scientists and practitioners involved in the information dissemination.
ED273385
Howes, Carol lee. 1986. Quality Indicators for Infant-Toddler
Child Care. 22p.; Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the
American Educational Research Association (67th, San Francisco,
CA, April 16-20, 1986). EDRS Price MF01/PC01 Plus Postage.
ED270222.
Zimiles, Herbert. 1986. Rethinking the Role of Research: New
Issues and Lingering Doubts in an Era of Expanding Preschool
Education. Urbana, IL: ERIC Clearinghouse on Elementary and
Early Childhood Education. 35p.; EDRS Price MF01/PCO2 Plus
Postage.
73 f':
3
Changing ideas about the role of early education increasingly point toward
universal preschool education for all children. Early education has come
to serve many purposes but, as it expands, there is danger that the
particular needs of young children will be overlooked by both
professionals and parents. This essay underlines the vulnerability of young
children and calls attention to the lifelong consequences of preschool
experiences. Examining issues concerning the long term effects of
preschool experiences, the discussion suggests that the value of early
education will vary as a function of a matrix of factors including program
quality, the vulnerability of individual children, and family needs.
Additionally, th3 achievements and limitations of evaluation research are
described within the context of possible deleterious effects of preschool
education. Emphasis is given to the importance of developing ideographic
methods of study to achieve more valid assessments of children's response
to early education. It is suggested that more time be devoted to
understanding the effects of substitute child care on parental attitudes and
behavior and to delineating and documenting the damaging consequences
of poorly run early childhood programs.
ED267911
New York City Office of the Mayor. 1986. Take a Giant Step:
An Equal Start in Education for All New York City
Four-Year-Olds. Final Report of the Early Childhood
Education Commission. New York: Author. 280p.; EDRS Price
MF01/PC12 Plus Postage.
In July of 1985, Edward Koch, the Mayor of the City of New York,
appointed a Commission to develop recommendations for beginning the
phased implementation of universally-available preschool education for
4-year-olds beginning in September, 1986. This report constitutes the
Commission's reply to the Mayor's request. Chapter 1 presents 10
recommendations with rationales and key supporting data. Chapter 2
describes and interprets the national and local research on the outcomes of
preschool education and explains why the research supports the Mayor's
proposal. Chapter 3 details the demographics and the enrollment patterns
of the city's 4-year-olds. Chapter 4 provides a description of the three
delivery systems that currently provide preschool educational programs,
including legislative and funding history; a program model; eligibility
criteria; funding sources and levels; staff qualifications and training
74
provisions; and monitoring and evaluation provisions. Chapter 5 lays out
the nine essential program components and associated rationales believed
essential to accomplishing the goals of the program. Chapter 6 provides
a guide on how recommendations might be implemented in the program's
first year. Chapter 7 concludes by presenting the proposed budget
necessary for program implementation. Nine pages of references are
included; appended materials describe Department of Parks and Recreation
preschool programs and chart early childhood program components.
ED264952
National Association for the Education of Young Children. 1985.
Guidelines for Early Childhood Education Programs in
Associate Degree Granting Institutions. Position Statement of
the National Association for the Education of Young Children.
Washington, DC, Author. 19p.; available from: National
Association for the Education of Young Children, 1834
Connecticut Avenue, N.W., Washington, DC 20009 (NAEYC
#210, $3.00; Discount on quantity orders). Document Not
Available from EDRS.
ED264944
Morgan, Gwen; And Others. 1985. Quality in Early Childhood
Programs: Four Perspectives. High/ Scope Early Childhood
75
R,1
Policy Papers, No. 3. Ypsilanti, MI: High/Scope Educational
Research Foundation. 72p.; For related documents, see
ED262902 ED262903 and PS 015 509. available from:
High/Scope Educational Research Foundation, 600 North River
Street, Ypsilanti, MI 48198. EDRS Price MF01 Plus Postage.
PC Not Available from EDRS.
ED264046
Ericson, B. Kay; Richardson, Bever lee. 1985. High Quality Child
Care: How to Identify. 10p.; Paper presented at the Annual
Parenting Symposium (1st, Chicago, IL, March 21-24, 1986).
EDRS Price MF01/PC01 Plus Postage.
The purpose of this article is to aid parents in selecting high quality child
care. A systematic method for identifying high quality child care focuses
on three major program areas: the physical, learning, and teaching
environments. The discussion helps parents become aware of appropriate
questions about the physical environment, become familiar with the
components of a learning environment which includes children's activities,
and gain an understanding of the importance of trained, qualified staff. An
76
ti
accompanying checklist provides parents with a framework for identifying
high quality child care.
ED264015
Cook, Jackqueline T. 1985. Child Daycare. 136p.; available
from: Edmunds Enterprises, P.O. Box 14471, Oakland, CA 94614
($8.95 plus $1.50 shipping and handling. California residents add
6.5 percent sales tax). EDRS Price - MF01 Plus Postage. PC Not
Available from EDRS.
Based on the thesis that the absence of adequate child care resources in the
United States presents a crisis not only for the child but for the parent, the
employer, and society as a whole, this book provides an overview of that
crisis in child day care. Part 1 briefly indicates the dimensions of the
crisis; discusses the historical antecedents of the crisis, from early
industrialization in England to the impacts of the New Federalism in the
United States; and focuses on socioeconomic factors bearing on the crisis.
Part 2 describes some of the major components of the informal child day
care delivery system and gives a few examples of the types of programs
in operation, including centers, Mom and Pop programs, corporate child
care, work-site programs, military programs, family day care homes,
parent cooperatives, and school-age care. Characteristics of child day care
services are pointed out. Part 3 focuses on policy and program issues--the
economics of child day care, regulations and standards, the delivery
system, research, policy boards, and, very briefly, related global issues.
Part 4 centers on solutions, such as strengthening existing services,
information and referral, expanding services, decreasing the need for
services, and, extensively, resource mobilization. Appended is a list of
national organizations supportive to child advocacy.
ED264009
Ad Hoc Day Care Coalition. 1985. The Crisis in Infant and
Toddler Child Care. Washington, DC, Author. 25p.; available
from: National Association for the Education of Young Children,
1834 Connecticut Avenue, Washington, DC 20009 ($2.50). EDRS
Price MFOI Plus Postage. PC Not Available from EDRS.
77 p
out-of-home child care for infants and toddlers which has not kept up with
the demand, and the potential for serious developmental damage to
children who do not get adequate, individualized care in the earliest years
of life have combined to produce a child care crisis for millions of infants
and toddlers and their working parents in this country. This report
provides information about: the changing demographics of working parents
with infants; existing child care arrangements; the unmet demand for
infant and toddler child care; the care infants and toddlers need; qualities
of a competent caregiver for infants and toddlers; measures of quality; the
regulation of quality care; the high cost of high quality care; goals for a
better infant and toddler child care policy; and strategies for implementing
such goals.
ED262872
Fried, Mindy; O'Reilly, Elaine. 1985. How Does Your
Community Grow? Planting Seeds for Quality Day Care. A
Citizen Action Manual. Boston, MA: Massachusetts State Office
for Children. 102p.; available from: Massachusetts Office for
Children, 150 Causeway Street, Boston, MA 02114 ($5.95, plus
$2.00 shipping). EDRS Price MF01/PC05 Plus Postage.
This manual, which presents the principles and steps involved in the
two-year Citizen Involvement for Day Care Quality Project in
Massachusetts, serves as a guide for developing a citizen network to
address the need for quality day care. The Project was housed by the
Office for Children (OFC), the state agency which licenses and monitors
all day care facilities in Massachusetts, and funded by the U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children,
Youth, and Families. Each chapter describes a component of the Project,
including an overview of its beginnings and accomplishments. Then key
principles and specific tips are extrapolated. These tips can apply to other
contexts, such as volunteer recruitment and training, skill building,
designing written materials, conflict resolution, designing and running
successful meetings, and coalition building. Throughout the manual case
examples illustrating technical skills and theoretical principles are
introduced to show the complexity of the issues. In addition, users are
encouraged to apply the techniques and principles to other issues and
situations unique to day care needs in other states and communities.
Specific chapters cover: the day care system in Massachusetts and its state
f A
'x 78
agencies; citizen action: basic principles and strategies of the project;
recruitment; improving day care quality; employer-supported day care;
revising state standards; lobbying and policymaking; computerized
resource services; project evaluation; and resources for evaluation of day
care centers.
ED262865
Swick, Kevin J., Ed.; Castle, Kathryn, Ed. 1985. Acting on What
We Know: Guidelines for Developing Effective Programs for
Young Children. Little Rock, AR: Southern Association on
Children Under Six. 107p.; EDRS Price MF01/PC05 Plus
Postage.
ED258731
Clarke-Stewart, Alison. 1985. What Day Care Forms and
Features Mean for Children's Development. 14p.; Paper
presented at the Meeting of the American Association for the
79
F7 `,.)
Advancement of Science (Los Angeles, CA, May 26-31, 1985).
EDRS Price MF01/PC01 Plus Postage.
ED255291
Children's Services Monitoring Transfer Consortium. 1985.
Generic Checklist for Day Care Monitoring. Washington, DC:
Gibson-Hunt Associates. 13p.; EDRS Price MF01/PC01 Plus
Postage.
This guide presents the results of research on day care monitoring methods
conducted by the Children's Services Monitoring Transfer Consortium. Jt
suggests a set of generic predictor items that can be used to monitor day
care providers' compliance with standards. The predictor items are at the
licensing or minimal compliance level and have been found to be
consistently significant predictors. The checklist covers the following areas
in a child care program: administration, staff qualifications, environmental
( ur' 80
safety, health, and nutrition. The selected items also appear 'o have high
face validity when compared with national day care standards. Information
about the checklist is presented in two sections. The first section lists and
discusses the items that research shows to be generic indicators of
compliance with day care standards. The second section suggests ways for
using the generic items in a monitoring program. In addition, an appendix
briefly discusses related research and provides guidance for obtaining
further information.
ED255290
Kontos, Susan; Fiene, Richard. 1985. Penn State/OCYF Day
Care Project: Final Report of a Pilot Study. 17p. University
Park, PA: Pennsylvania State University. EDRS Price
MF01/PC01 Plus Postage.
In Pennsylvania compliance with state health and safety regulations for day
care center licensing is monitored by administering the Child Development
Program Evaluation (CDPE). This pilot study attempted to discover key
indicators of day care center quality other than those measured on the
CDPE and also to find out about the relationships between these quality
indicators and child development. Ten day care centers were assessed
using the CDPE and two other measures, the Early Childhood
Environmental Rating Scale (ECERS) and the Caregiver Observation Form
and Scale. Results indicated that nonprofit centers had higher scores on the
two measures of quality than profit centers. However, children who
attended profit centers had higher socioeconomic status and higher scores
for cognitive, language, and social development. After a certain level of
state compliance, program quality scores were found to fall as state
compliance scores rose. A hierarchical multiple regression analysis to
determine the predictors of child development revealed only one small
effect for program quality. Ten items from the ECERS were found to be
good predictors of overall program quality. It was concluded that
compliance with state regulations is not an indicator of program quality,
and that a comprehensive, state-wide study of dPy care quality should
obtain separate samples of profit and nonprofit centers, should include
lower and middle class children from each center, and should explore
funding as a factor in day care quality.
81
87
ERIC Journal Articles
82
Bryant, Donna M.; And Others.1991. Best Practices for
Beginners: Developmental Appropriateness in Kindergarten.
American Educational Research Journal, 28(4), 783-803.
EJ438611
Relations between attendance in stable high quality day care programs and
grade school behavior and performance were determined in two studies of
elementary school children. Found that time in quality infant care was
significantly related to positive social behavior and higher academic
achievement.
Strickland, James. 1991. All Centers Great and Small: The Impact
of Size on Center Management. Child Care Information Exchange,
(79), May-Jun, 14-18. EJ433402
Discusses the impact of day care center size on quality of care and center
management. Large centers can be more resilient but can also be
susceptible to mediocrity. Small centers may be safer, but less flexible.
The ability of administrators to match interests with duties will vary with
center size.
83 8
terms of the overall care and nurture of a small group of infants. Discusses
methods of reporting and assessment used by caregivers.
Presents six myths about early childhood education and care. Myths
concern day care quality, the impact of day care on families and
communities, academically oriented curricula, the importance of caregiver
training, and parent involvement. Emphasizes that professionals need to
dispel these myths, recognize the complexity of good child care, and be
sensitive to families' changing needs.
c0 84
This study examined 236 8-year olds from a state with minimal child care
standards in an effort to discover possible differences associated with child
care histories. Children with more extensive child care experiences were
associated with negative ratings by parents, teachers, and peers.
Describes the budgetary realities faced by a day care center director who
is interested in improving quality of care, compensation of staff, and
affordability to parents -the child care trilemma. Concludes by suggesting
several short-term measures that might begin to address these issues.
Compares child care standards in each of the 50 states and the District of
Columbia. Addresses variability among states in provisions of child care
regulations, the adequacy of standards at the lower end of the range, and
the disparity between state and national criteria for high quality care.
85
9
problem solving, financial management, and environmental interaction.
Howes, Carol lee. 1990. Can the Age of Entry into Child Care and
the Quality of Child Care Predict Adjustment in Kindergarten?
Developmental Psychology, 26(2), 292-303. EJ409102
86
Galinsky, Ellen. 1989. Is There Really a Crisis in Child Care? If
so, Does Anybody out There Care? Young Children, 44(5), 2-3.
EJ 394076
Outlines some of the findings from public opinion polls and surveys on
how the voting public feels about child care and what the actual problems
are. Also indicates studies on child care which are now in progress.
Argues that the secret to producing quality child care in the 1990s will be
clear, innovative thinking by the center or program director, good center
design, and an ability to articulate and sell a vision of quality.
87
Discusses some of the problems that infants and toddlers experience in
infant and toddler day care programs, and suggests four program features
that are vital in aiding infants and toddlers in the early years of care.
Twenty children were observed at age four during free play at good and
poor quality day care centers and again at age eight in triadic play
sessions. Significant continuity was found between the four-year-olds'
behavior in the day care centers and the children's functioning at eight
years.
A beginning strategy for achieving high quality in child care programs was
derived from results of an examination of 21 Pennsylvania child care
centers. These centers used the Early Childhood Environmental Rating
Scale (ECERS) to assess program quality. Implications for staff training
are discussed.
88
Pediatrics and American Public Health Association to develop national
reference standards for out-of-home child care programs.
89
Caldwell, Bettye M. 1986. Day Care and Early Environmental
Adequacy. New Directions for Child Development, 32 (Jun),
11-30. EJ339261
Howes, Carol lee; Olenick, Michael. 1986. Family and Child Care
Influences on Toddler's Compliance. Child Development, 57(1),
202-16. EJ336358
Considers issues that challenge parents and professionals faced with the
need for infant group care: nurturing in the infant caregiver, staff stability,
economics of staff/infant ratios, the role of language in caregiving,
altruism in babies, group versus individual time, control and power issues,
and caregiver training.
90
Weikart, David P. 1988. Perspective in High/Scope's Early
Education Research. Early Child Development and Care, 33(1-4),
29-40. EJ385933
Previews articles in this special issue on Early Child Care and Education.
Formulates important curriculum and training questions. Argues for
eclectic consideration and application of research findings for the purpose
of promoting optimal Early Child Care and Education.
91
The ERIC System
c.
92
How to Obtain Copies of ERIC Documents
and Journal Articles
93
S9
The ERIC Clearinghouse on Elementary and
Early Childhood Education (ERIC/EECE)
ERIC/EECE
University of Illinois
805 W. Pennsylvania Avenue
Urbana, IL 61801-4897
Telephone: 217-333-1386
Fax: 217-333-3767
Email:ericeece@uxl. cso. uiuc.edu
100
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NOTES