Using Program Assessments to Look at Children in Groups ©2014 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. Chapter 14 Using Program Assessments to Look at Children in Groups

ASSESSING EARLY CHILDHOOD PROGRAMS ©2014 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. Reasons to assess a program: Evaluate against a standard Assess program to its stated mission and philosophy Received feedback from constituencies (customers and funders) Assess program’s suitability for an individual child Provide measures of accountability

Criteria of Program Assessment ©2014 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. Criteria of Program Assessment Interactions between children and teachers Curriculum Relationships between teachers and families Staff qualifications and professional development Administration Staffing Physical environment Health and safety Nutrition and food service Evaluation

Types of Program Assessments ©2014 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. Types of Program Assessments Total Program Evaluations Accreditation Head Start Program Standards Family Child Care Accreditation Special Focus Instruments Environment Rating Scales Health and Safety Staff Performance Anti-Bias Curriculum

Program Assessments Advantages Disadvantages Monitors program Cost ©2014 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. Program Assessments Advantages Monitors program Objective criteria to measure program Measurement of staff, administration Program improvement Disadvantages Cost Time Instrument may not fit the program context Evaluators may not be knowledgeable in using the tool or fair in evaluating the program

TOPICS IN OBSERVATION Assessing the Environment ©2014 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. Blaming or criticizing is not helpful Comes back to: “What are you doing that contributes to this situation?” or “What are you doing to make it better?”

LOOKING AT THE ADJUSTMENT OF THE CHILD TO THE PROGRAM ©2014 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. Class size ratio – The younger the child the smaller adult/child ratio and the smaller the group size This provides the necessary supervision and interaction Behavioral indicators of comfort: Dependable routines Developmentally appropriate activities Reliance on adults for assistance and protection

Infants and Toddlers Adjustment in Group Settings ©2014 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. Infants and Toddlers Adjustment in Group Settings Focused attention to child Two-way communication with child Low staff/child ratios Consistent primary caregivers Safe, attractive, interesting environments Respect for the family and their culture Planned transitions to next caregivers and classrooms

Helping All Children in Group Settings ©2014 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. Helping All Children in Group Settings Inclusion of Children with Special Needs in “Least Restricted Environment” Developmental levels Small ratio of children with special needs to total group Individualized learning experiences Partnership with families Helping Professionals