Planning and Administering Early Childhood Programs

by Decker, Celia Anita; Decker, John R.

• ISBN13: 9780130271686
• ISBN10: 0130271683
• Edition: 7th
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2001-01-01
• Publisher: Pearson College Div

Summary

For a basic course in Early Childhood Program Administration. This structured text offers a solid overview of the types of early childhood programs available today and explores all aspects of their administration. Rooted in the philosophy that thoughtful planning and administration are essential to the success of early childhood programs, it examines how specific program bases affect decisions in all areas of program planning. It is designed to equip the reader with the necessary strategies, tactics, and resources to make better judgements in administering early childhood programs.

Table of Contents

Overview of Early Childhood Programs	1	(29)
Nature and Extent of Programs	3	(3)
Factors Influencing Early Childhood Programs	3	(2)
Status of Early Childhood Programs	5	(1)
Types of Early Childhood Programs	6	(15)
Knitting Schools	6	(1)
Dame Schools	6	(1)
Common Schools	7	(1)
Infant Schools	7	(1)
Fireside Education	8	(1)
Kindergarten	8	(1)
Montessori Schools	9	(1)
Nursery Schools	10	(1)
Day Nurseries and Child Care	11	(7)
Head Start	18	(1)
Primary Schools	19	(1)
Public Prekindergarten Programs	20	(1)
Child Care Resource and Referral (CCR&R) Agencies	20	(1)
Services and Programs Addressing Populations with Special Needs	21	(1)
Children Who Are at Risk	21	(1)
Children With Disabilities	21	(1)
Children From Linguistically and Culturally Diverse Backgrounds	22	(1)
Family Services	22	(1)
Issues and New Ideas in Early Childhood Care and Education	23	(3)
From Different Historical Perspectives to a Kaleidoscope of Program Practices	24	(1)
From a Focus on the Child to a Family-Centered Vision	25	(1)
From a Diversity of Services to Program Linkages/New Systems	25	(1)
From Care Versus Education to Comprehensive Services	25	(1)
From Program Deficiencies and Inequities to Quality Programs for All	26	(1)
Nature of Planning and Administering Early Childhood Programs	26	(1)
Summary	27	(1)
For Further Reading	27	(2)
PART ONE Constructing the Early Childhood Program's Framework	29	(70)
Planning, Implementing, and Evaluating the Program	31	(34)
Factors Determining the Program Base	32	(5)
Proper Sources	32	(4)
Improper Sources	36	(1)
Overview of Curriculum Models	37	(10)
Models Based on Psychological Theories	37	(7)
Summary of Programmatic Research	44	(3)
Obstacles in Developing Program Goals	47	(9)
Lack of Consensus in Program Goals	48	(7)
Lack of Quality in Early Childhood Programs	55	(1)
Implementing the Program	56	(1)
Evaluating the Program	57	(3)
Intuitive Evaluation	57	(1)
Formal Evaluation	58	(2)
An Important Consideration	60	(1)
Trends and Issues	60	(2)
Summary	62	(1)
For Further Reading	62	(3)
Considering Regulations and Establishing Policies	65	(34)
Considering Protective Regulations	66	(19)
Achieving Quality Through Protective Regulations	67	(1)
Specific Protective Standards	68	(17)
Meeting Legal Requirements Through Regulations	85	(4)
Legal Existence of Private Programs	85	(3)
Fiscal Regulations	88	(1)
Staff Regulations Excluding Credentialing	89	(1)
Establishing Policies/Procedures	89	(4)
Reason for Policy/Procedure Establishment	90	(1)
Formulation, Interpretation, and Implementation of Policy/Procedure	90	(1)
Characteristics of Viable Policies/Procedures	91	(1)
Policy/Procedure Categories	92	(1)
Trends and Issues	93	(3)
Mistaken Belief that Regulations Equal Quality	93	(1)
Gaps in Regulation	94	(1)
Two-Tiered System of Credentialing Staff	95	(1)
Dilemma of Affordability Versus Quality	95	(1)
Summary	96	(1)
For Further Reading	96	(3)
PART TWO Operationalizing the Early Childhood Program	99	(138)
Leading and Managing Personnel	101	(42)
Trends in Staffing	102	(3)
Staff Shortage: A Deep-Rooted Problem	102	(2)
Staff Diversity: An Urgent Need	104	(1)
Staffing an Early Childhood Program	105	(13)
Roles and Qualifications of Personnel	105	(7)
Assessing Needs and Recruiting Staff Members	112	(6)
Creating a Positive Climate and Enriching Life for Staff	118	(16)
Building a Productive Work Climate	118	(4)
Enriching the Professional Life of the Staff	122	(12)
Personnel Services and Records	134	(5)
Contract and Terms of Employment	134	(1)
Job Description	135	(1)
Insurance and Retirement Plans	136	(2)
Personnel Records	138	(1)
Trends and Issues	139	(1)
Summary	140	(1)
For Further Reading	141	(1)
Narratives for Staff Development	141	(2)
Planning the Physical Environment	143	(72)
Entry/Exit Area	145	(1)
Indoor Space	146	(45)
Arranging and Furnishing the Activity Room	146	(8)
General Criteria for Learning/Activity Centers	154	(3)
Activity Centers for Infants and Toddlers	157	(5)
Learning/Activity Centers for Older Children	162	(20)
Developing a Room Layout Plan	182	(1)
Additional Areas for Children	183	(6)
Adult Areas	189	(1)
Environmental Control	190	(1)
Outdoor Space	191	(10)
Brief History of Playground Design	191	(1)
Types of Playgrounds	192	(1)
General Criteria and Specifications for Outdoor Space	192	(3)
Outdoor Space Arrangement	195	(6)
The Early Childhood Facility	201	(1)
Other Considerations	201	(10)
Safety	201	(4)
Planning Facilities for Accommodating Children and Adults with Special Needs	205	(1)
Purchasing Equipment and Materials	206	(5)
Purchasing Insurance	211	(1)
Trends and Issues	211	(1)
Summary	212	(1)
For Further Reading	213	(2)
Financing and Budgeting	215	(22)
Costs of Early Childhood Programs	217	(5)
Estimates of Program Costs	217	(2)
Costs to Families	219	(2)
Cost Analysis of Programs	221	(1)
Financing Early Childhood Programs	222	(8)
Public School Financing of Kindergartens and Primary Programs	222	(1)
State Financing of Early Childhood Programs	223	(1)
Federal Financing and Foundation Support	224	(4)
Employer Assistance	228	(1)
Fees, Tuition, and Miscellaneous Sources of Funds	229	(1)
Innovative Financing Strategies	230	(1)
Budgeting	230	(5)
Regulations Governing Budget Making and Adoption	230	(1)
Developing a Budget	230	(2)
Reporting the Budget	232	(3)
Trends and Issues	235	(1)
Summary	235	(1)
For Further Reading	236	(1)
PART THREE Implementing the Children's Program	237	(148)
Planning the Children's Program	239	(38)
Curriculum Planning	240	(25)
Establishing Program Rationale for Curriculum	240	(2)
Stating Program Base	242	(2)
Translating Goals Into Program Competencies	244	(1)
Implementing the Curriculum	245	(20)
Trends and Issues	265	(4)
Defining Quality Curriculum	265	(1)
Implementing Quality Curriculum	266	(1)
Considering Inclusion	267	(1)
Providing Smooth Transitions	267	(2)
Summary	269	(1)
For Further Reading	270	(1)
Readings on Curriculum Development	270	(7)
Providing Nutrition, Health, and Safety Services	277	(32)
Nutrition	278	(11)
Planning Food Service	279	(8)
Identifying Children's Nutrition Problems	287	(1)
Implementing Nutrition Education for Children	287	(2)
Serving Parents' Needs	289	(1)
Health	289	(9)
Children's Health Status	289	(1)
Practices Aiding Children's Health	290	(6)
Children's and Adults' Mental Health	296	(1)
Protecting Staff Members' Health	297	(1)
Safety	298	(6)
Environmental Safety	298	(1)
Emergency Preparedness	299	(2)
Child Protection	301	(1)
Safety Consciousness	301	(3)
Health and Safety Education	304	(1)
Trends and Issues	304	(1)
Summary	305	(1)
For Further Reading	305	(1)
Readings for Developing Appropriate Mental Health Strategies	306	(3)
Assessing, Recording, and Reporting Children's Progress	309	(36)
Assessing	310	(12)
Types of Assessment in a Historical Perspective	311	(3)
Purposes of Assessment	314	(1)
Authentic Assessment Methods	315	(6)
Standardized Tests	321	(1)
Recording	322	(9)
Types of Records	323	(8)
Public Law 93-380	331	(1)
Reporting	331	(8)
Determining the Purposes of Reporting	331	(1)
Facilitating Reporting Through Assessment Data	332	(1)
Determining the Methods of Reporting	332	(7)
Rethinking Reporting Practices	339	(1)
Trends and Issues	339	(1)
Summary	340	(1)
For Further Reading	341	(1)
Readings on Authentic Assessment	342	(1)
Readings on Portfolios	342	(3)
Working With Families	345	(30)
Types of Involvement	347	(1)
Research on Benefits and Challenges of Working with Parents	347	(6)
Benefits of Working with Families	347	(4)
Meeting the Challenges of Working with Families	351	(2)
Legal Rights of Parents	353	(1)
Family Involvement	353	(15)
Family-Staff Communication	354	(11)
Family Participation	365	(3)
Parent Education and Family Resource and Support Programs	368	(3)
Purposes of Parent Education and Family Resource and Support Programs	368	(1)
Types of Parent Education and Family Resource and Support Programs	369	(2)
Effects of Parent Education and Family Resource and Support Programs	371	(1)
Trends and Issues	371	(2)
Summary	373	(1)
For Further Reading	373	(2)
Contributing to the Profession	375	(10)
Promoting Professionalization	376	(2)
Professionalism and Professional Development	377	(1)
Professionalism and a Code of Ethics	377	(1)
Influencing Public Policy	378	(3)
Roles in Influencing Public Policy	379	(1)
Becoming an Effective Advocate	380	(1)
Becoming Involved in Research	381	(1)
Helping Others Find a Place in the Profession	382	(1)
Trends and Issues	382	(1)
Summary	383	(1)
For Further Reading	384	(1)
Appendix 1 Resources for Program Planning	385	(12)
Appendix 2 State Licensing and Certification Agencies	397	(6)
Appendix 3 Accreditation Criteria Examples	403	(2)
Appendix 4 Professional Organizations Concerned with Young Children	405	(6)
Appendix 5 Additional Organizations of Concern to Early Childhood Educators	411	(2)
Appendix 6 Suppliers of Early Childhood Equipment, Books, and Materials	413	(4)
Appendix 7 Grants and Other Assistance	417	(14)
Appendix 8 Handbook for Families and Volunteers	431	(8)
References	439	(46)
Author Index	485	(10)
Subject Index	495