Iowa State University Extension

Problem:
Child care providers are struggling to understand what quality child care is and how to provide it. Many providers want to improve the quality of the programs they offer but need guidance in evaluating programs and developing plans for improvement.

Response:
One hundred nineteen providers attended sequential training facilitated by ISUE family life specialist to improve their program quality using the Quality Rating Scales. The series consisted of eight hours of training on the use of the scale for self-evaluation and the development of a plan of action. Four series of the Family Child Care Rating Scale Training were held in Ft. Dodge (6 attended), Marshalltown (9 attended), Sac City (14 attended), and Iowa Falls (6 attended). Four series of the Infant Toddler Rating Scale Training were held in Boone ( 6 attended), Ames (7 attended), Des Moines (14 attended), and Adel (9 attended). One series of the Early Childhood Environmental Rating Scale Trainings were held in Iowa Falls (13 attended). Two series of the School-age Environmental Rating Scale Trainings were held in Des Moines (2 attended) and Van Meter (13 attended).

Impact
In end-of-series evaluations, over 80% stated they could use the rating scales accurately to evaluate their programs most of the time. 83% of the attendees rated their need to make changes in their programs as high. As reported in follow-up evaluations, twenty-eight centers/home child care settings made the following changes in their programs based upon the self-evaluation: • Provide more free-choice activities for children (23), including more art, science, music, dramatic play, cultural diversity, portable materials for active physical play, and books • Displays for children (7) • Rearranged the environment (4) • Added new equipment, supplies, lighting and/or child-sized furnishings (4) • Increased softness in environment (3) • Improved sanitation/hand washing practices (2)

Contact:
Cheryl Clark
Hardin County Extension
524 Lawler Street
Iowa Falls, IA 50126
641-648-4850
cclark@iastate.edu