©2011 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. Chapter 10 Quality Programs in Early Childhood Settings

©2011 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. Objectives Discuss the relationship between a program’s philosophy and its quality Discuss the importance of the teacher and director/principal in a quality program List the program standards evaluated under NAEYC accreditation criteria Discuss the relationship between accreditation and other forms of program evaluation and quality

©2011 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. High-Quality Program Support students’ professional development Promote and develop ECE institutions Ensure that workforce reflects the racial, ethnic, and linguistic diversity of the population they serve

©2011 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. Meeting Children’s Needs Implications according to Maslow’s and Erikson’s theories A balanced program Personnel and philosophies

©2011 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. Standards of Quality Programs U.S. Department of Education (2005) components of high-quality preschool programs NAEYC’s standards for preschool center accreditation

©2011 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. Standards of Quality Programs Has No Child Left Behind made a difference in quality? Quality in family child care

©2011 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. Types of Quality Programs Types of programs –Child care centers –State-funded child care programs –Head Start program –Montessori program –Parent cooperative –Private, nonprofit, for-profit preschools –Primary schools No cookie-cutter model

©2011 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. Who Decides the Quality of a Program? Studies of quality The Quality 2000 Initiative Legislative efforts The true cost of quality child care

©2011 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. Accreditation and Its Relationship to Quality Accreditation in elementary school programs NAEYC accreditation Why quality remains low

©2011 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. Quality Rating Systems (QRS) Five common elements –Standards –Accountability –Program and practitioner outreach & support –Financial incentives linked to quality standards –Family/consumer education

©2011 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. The Comer Project for Change in Education Comer’s six points to reform schools –Understand the complex demands that affect schools –Start where the children are –Keep pace with changing society –Focus on relationships and child development –Develop group goals, trust and accountability to standards –Make financial commitments and policy changes

©2011 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. Mentoring Programs State-operated mentoring and apprenticeship programs for early childhood teachers Early Childhood Mentoring Alliance Teacher support programs for public school teachers

©2011 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. Summary Guidelines of a quality program Accreditation process Your role as a student teacher