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A good procedures manual should be written so that it:

1. has enough detail to explain the process but not so much that it discourages staff from following the procedure 2. reviews how to follow a policy that is not self-explanatory to ensure the smooth running of the operation.

What quality practices are all child care programs expected to follow?

1. meet local licensing requirements 2. provide high quality programs for young children

When assessing the needs of a geographic area prior to opening a child care center, it is important to gather data about which factors?

1. number and ages of children 2. socioeconomic levels of the families 3. types of childcare services families prefer

What do most licensing regulations, regardless of the state, include?

1. physical space requirements and building safety 2. staff qualifications 3. teacher-to-child ratios

According to the Children's Defense Fund, in 2008, what percentage of children under age six years had both parents in the labor force?

60%

To determine the number and type of child care slots available in a geographic area, a person planning a new child care center would approach the following organization:

Child Care Resource and Referral (CCR&R)

Carla is a center-based teacher. She has completed a professional portfolio and 120 hours of formal training hours. Which teacher credential does Carla have?

Child Development Associate

Program administrators usually possess the knowledge and skills to be successful leaders prior to taking on the role of director.

False

Head Start is an example of which type of program?

Federal government sponsored

Harry is a four-year-old who will be attending the prekindergarten program at his local public school in September. Which of the following will be true of Harry's education experience?

His teacher will report to an independent owner.

If a child care facility is licensed, what does that license demonstrate about the facility?

It has local or state permission to operate.

Which organization provides accreditation for Family Child Care programs?

NAFCC

The list of responsibilities for each director may change from center to center, but there is one task that directors are always directly responsible for. What is this task?

Program Maintenance

What is the primary way QRIS is different from national accreditation?

QRIS is a leveled system whereas accreditation is not.

Which of the following subsystems is external to early childhood systems?

Regulatory system

Together Time Day Care takes an interactional position when it comes to how children learn. What are the teaching practices would you expect teachers to follow at this day care?

Teachers organize play opportunities for children based on children's learning needs.

Busy Bee Day Care takes an environmental position when it comes to how children learn. Which teaching practice would you most likely expect teachers to follow at this child care?

Teachers utilize sticker charts to reward the children's recitation of the alphabet.

Growing Years Day Care takes a maturational position when it comes to how children learn. Which teaching practice would you most likely expect teachers to follow at this child care center?

The daily schedule is mostly free playtime with children choosing their own learning

What does it mean when a program has achieved national accreditation?

The program performs at a higher level than licensing requirements and has met additional standards.

Which of the following best defines a program's core values?

beliefs about child development that serve as the foundation of the program

Diana has been a preschool teacher for seven years and feels she is ready to move up in her career. She has had the opportunity to train in many of the center's systems, but wants to ensure she will be a successful director. Which skill would be most helpful for her to study to learn more about the leadership of people?

learning techniques to promote teamwork within the program

What is the title of the person who reviews a child care program for regulation compliance?

licensing specialist

When coaching is defined as a "form of professional development," which activities is it most likely to involve?

observation of the learner followed by discussion with the coach

Whereas a director with a managerial style focuses more on tasks, what does a director with a leadership style focus on?

people

When a program receives their program license, what should they do with it?

post it conspicuously for families and visitors to see

How long does it take, realistically, for a new child care program to reach full enrollment?

several years

There are internal and external systems that have an effect on early childhood programs. What is the best definition of external subsystems in an early childhood program?

systems the center's staff has influence over, but not direct control of

Annie is the director of a small center attended by children who are primarily from the local town. Who are most likely her primary stakeholders?

the children in her center, families of the children in her center, the teacher and other staff in her center

What is the function of a state's Quality Rating Improvement System?

tiered level to communicate quality and program improvement

Why should new program directors analyze how much time they spend on the tasks they are working on?

to better prioritize tasks that led to the most productive activities for the program

What does making a commitment to diverse stakeholders mean?

treating all stakeholders in accordance with the center's philosophy

Which of the following is a tactic to increase a director's efficiency?

use technology to digitize forms

What is the phrase that reflects the foundational philosophy of a child care program?

value statement

What are the potential penalties for a child care facility not complying with licensing regulations? a. A fine could be imposed.

1. A fine could be imposed. 2. The program may be forced to close. 3. The well-being of children and staff could be jeopardized.

What are some reasons a family might choose a family-care home over a center-based program?

1. Family care can often serve a broader range of needs. 2. Family care may be available for care during a normally unscheduled time

What are the benefits of offering a director credential?

1. It enhances the knowledge and skill of program administrators. 2. It improves the quality of the program the director manages. 3. it presents the job of director as a professional career option

Why is the accreditation process valuable to a director and program staff?

1. It may reveal areas of the program that need to be improved. 2. It provides an opportunity for the director and staff to work together to prove quality in their program. 3. More families may choose a program that is accredited, thereby increasing enrollment.

Why can packaged curriculum never completely replace the planning and preparation of teachers?

1. The curriculum may need to be modified to align with the center's philosophies 2. Instruction should consider the specific children in the class

What other roles can the licensing specialist perform for a child care program?

1. a communication bridge between centers 2. a consultant to board members on which regulations can be disregarded 3. someone to help with regulations grievances

Directors may have different roles as the leader of their program. Which personal qualities would a director with strong leadership qualities demonstrate in the director role?

1. adjust his/her style to what is most comfortable to the staff member he/she is leading 2. provides emotional support to a staff member who is going through a divorce 3. takes workshops in the evening to stay current of the latest practices and research

When developing survey questions, the writer should:

1. ask families for demographic information like income 2. ask only for information that is important to the target program 3. write questions that are brief and understandable.

As the curriculum leader, which tasks is a director most likely directly responsible for?

1. coaching teachers with little or no background in child development 2. ensuring the goals and philosophies of the program are reflected 3. establishing and sustaining a quality curriculum

Directors may have different administrative styles, sometimes more leadership-based and sometimes more managerial. Which approaches demonstrate a director with leadership skills over managerial skills?

1. director acts as a facilitator to staff who work as a team to improve the program 2. the director welcomes feedback from staff for ideas and plans to improve the program

Shirley would like to open her own child care program. As an independent owner, what type of center could she open?

1. family child care 2. franchise of a cooperate system 3. for profit nursery program

According to the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), which child care quality factors are most predictive of child outcomes?

1. the child care provider's compensation 2. the child care provider's education and specialized training 3. teacher to child ratios

In addition to the licensing department, who might inspect a child care facility prior to it being given permission to operate?

1. the fire department 2. the health department 3. the building department

What steps are usually involved in the process to accredit a program?

1. there director makes a required visit to the accreditation headquarters 2. there is a self-study of the center's facilities

Program philosophies are grounded in:

1. values of the founders of the program 2. views on basic issues in education 3. expectations about how children learn

For middle-to-high-income families, it is reasonable to expect them to pay up to what percentage of their total income for child care expenses?

10%

As of 2013, approximately what percentage of child care centers in the United States are nationally accredited?

11%

What is the minimum amount of time a program should allow for completion of the initial licensing process?

3 months

As of 2014, approximately how many licensed child care facilities were there in the United States?

300,000

The child care program, Sunny Days, has a core value, "Children construct their own learning." Which of the following value statements best reflects this belief?

Therefore, we provide opportunities for children to independently explore their environment

What is one of the benefits of using an online survey over non-electronic methods of collecting data from a variety of stakeholders?

They often include analysis and/or data presentation tools.

In the future, directors of child care programs will have more regulatory obligations than today's directors.

True

What is a career pathway?

a clearly defined route by which child care professionals can advance their knowledge and career

How often should a director ideally visit each classroom in his or her program?

daily

Of the following steps in the licensing process, which would a program complete first?

ensure that the building is zoned for a child care program

A mission statement a document for internal use only, known only by program staff to help guide hiring and professional development

false

Child care programs face the same regulations regardless of where they are in the country.

false

Every system that a school leader manages will be an internal system or subsystem.

false

The terms child care center, early education center, pre-school and nursery school identify different types of programs.

false

What is one quick and informal way to determine the number of children a new child care center could serve?

find out if other centers in the area have waiting lists for care

When a teacher has been awarded a teaching credential, it means that he/she

has appropriate preparation for the field of early education.

Which of the following programs are always not-for-profit programs?

head start

What is the most direct benefit to a program of a director with strong people leadership skills?

higher staff morale and collaboration

The NAEYC Code of Ethical Conduct and Supplement for Early Childhood Program Administrators is best described as a set of:

ideals and principles to solve ethical problems.

QRIS is a framework for:

program enhancement.

Which responsibilities will a director always be asked to perform?

program maintenance

What are the three elements a mission statement should include?

purpose, business, and values

What is the purpose of the NAEYC Code of Ethical Conduct and Supplement for Early Childhood Program Administrators?

resolving dilemmas of principle

What is a strong program administrator who balances both managerial tasks and people leadership known as?

staff-oriented director

The director of a center needs to balance the needs and desires of all of those with a vested interest in the center's maintenance and enrichment. What term is used for this group of people?

stakeholders

Which of the following are examples of a program that has adopted a healthy, systems thinking approach?

teachers plan curriculum in teams to ensure cohesion, 2. the staff brainstorm a new procedure during a staff meeting prior to adoption

What is the primary function of the licensing specialist?

to evaluate a program's licensing compliance and to issue a license to programs who meet minimum requirements