Using the Family Child Care Environmental Rating Scale (FCCERS) and Arnett Caregiver Interaction Scale for Program Assessment and Improvement

 

Course Description:

The Family Child Care Environmental Rating Scale (FCCERS) is a valid and reliable tool for measuring the quality of a family child care program. Resulting data can be used to make decisions and plans for program improvement as well as advancement on the Quality Rating Improvement System (QRIS). Participants will become familiar with the FCCERS tool, the specific items it measures, and how to implement it in a family child care setting. Examples of recommended practices and useful strategies for planning program improvements will be shared.

The scales are designed to assess process quality in an early childhood or school age care group. Process quality consists of the various interactions that go on in a classroom between staff and children, staff, parents, and other adults, among the children themselves, and the interactions children have with the many materials and activities in the environment, as well as those features, such as space, schedule and materials that support these interactions. Process quality is assessed primarily through observation and has been found to be more predictive of child outcomes than structural indicators such as staff to child ratio, group size, cost of care, and even type of care, for example child care center or family child care home (Whitebook, Howes & Phillips, 1995).

In order to provide care and education that will permit children to experience a high quality of life while helping them develop their abilities, a quality program must provide for the three basic needs all children have:

• Protection of their health and safety
• Building positive relationships
• Opportunities for stimulation and learning from experience

The Environmental Rating Scales (ERS) consist of a series of four scales that share the same format and scoring system. Each of the scales assess a different age group and/or type of early education and care setting. The ERS is a valid and reliable tool for program evaluation.

The scales are designed to assess process quality in an early childhood or school age care group. Process quality consists of the various interactions that go on in a classroom between staff and children, staff, parents, and other adults, among the children themselves, and the interactions children have with the many materials and activities in the environment, as well as those features, such as space, schedule and materials that support these interactions. Process quality is assessed primarily through observation and has been found to be more predictive of child outcomes than structural indicators such as staff to child ratio, group size, cost of care, and even type of care, for example child care center or family child care home (Whitebook, Howes & Phillips, 1995).

In order to provide care and education that will permit children to experience a high quality of life while helping them develop their abilities, a quality program must provide for the three basic needs all children have:

• Protection of their health and safety
• Building positive relationships
• Opportunities for stimulation and learning from experience

The Environmental Rating Scales (ERS) consist of a series of four scales that share the same format and scoring system. Each of the scales assess a different age group and/or type of early education and care setting. The ERS is a valid and reliable tool for program evaluation. Programs can use the appropriate scale for self-assessment and to determine areas for improvement.

The Arnett caregiver Interaction Scale is designed to measure the emotional tone, disciplinary style, and the responsiveness of the educator. During this training, participants will review the organization and content of the Interaction Scale, practice using the tool as a self-assessment measure, and utilize the results to identify areas for improvement.