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Directing a Child Care Program: a Course for Administrators

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Directing a Child Care Program: a Course for Administrators 19CUMENT RESUME ED 235 918 PS 013 934 AUTHOR McAdams, Janice Wheelon TITLE Directing a Child Care Program:A Course for Administrators. INSTITUTION North Carolina Univ., Chapel Hill. FrankPorter Graham Center. SPONS AGENCY North Carolina State Dept. of CommunityColleges, Raleigh. Occupational Program Services.;North Carolina State Dept. of Human Resources,Raleigh. Office of Day Care Services. PUB DATE 83 NOTE 680p.; Produced with advice from the NorthCarolina Department of Administration Office of ChildCare Licensing. PUB TYPE Guides Classroom Use Guides (For Teachers) (052) EDRS PRICE MF04/PC28 Plus Postage. DESCRIPTORS *Administrators; Community Colleges;*Course Content; Curriculum Development; *Day Care; EarlyChildhood Education; Enrollment; Facilities; HigherEducation; Legal Responsibility; Parent School Relationship; Personnel Management; Program Development;School Community Relationship; *Units of Study IDENTIFIERS North Carolina ABSTRACT This basic survey course for directors ofday care centers in North Carolina consists of eight unitsbased on the center director's areas of responsibility. Theseareas include operational planning; physical facilities; financialmanagement; legal issues; curriculum planning; staff, parent, andcommunity relations; and enrollment. Each unit consists of the followingcomponents: (1) job tasks and instructional performance objectives; (2)description of unit content, including knowledgeor skills needed to fulfill job tasks, suggested teaching methods, and materialsrecommended to accompany content and methods; and (3)numerous handouts related to, expanding on, and illustrating unitcontent. Designed to obtain the instructor's reaction to course material,an evaluation form is also included in each unit. Appendedare a resource list of related persons and/or agencies; a bibliography of supplementarymaterials, articles, and audiovisualresources; and a complete list of handouts included. (RH) *********************************************************************** * Reproductions supplied by EDRSare the best that can be made * * from the original document. * *********************************************************************** U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF EDUCATION EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION C Nil ER IERIL:1 This document has been reproduced as received from the person or organization originating it. Apar°, changes have been made to Improve reproduction quality. Points of view or opinions stated in this clocu ment do not necessarily represent official NIE position or policy. a C d Care ogr A Course for A strators cyz "PERMISSION TO REPRODUCE THIS MATERIAL HAS BEEN GRANTED BY Produced by N ,C. 0-F CtNi,ktru..) 1/4.4,A Co f Occupational Program Services TO THE EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES North Carolina-Department of Community Colleges INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC)" Office of Day Care Services DI North Carolina Department of Human Resources DIRECTING A CHILD CARE PROGRAM A COURSE FOR ADMINISTRATORS Devel oped by Janice Wheelon McAdams Frank Porter Graham Child Development Center Fall, 1983 Produced by Occupational Program Services Office of Day Care Services N. C. Dept. of Community Colleges N. C. Dept. of Human Rdsources With Advice From Office of Child Day Care Licensing N. C. Dept. of Administration Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action It is the policy of the Community College System not todiscriminate on the basis of race, sex, age, national origin, religion, orhandicap with regard to its students, employees, or applicants for admission or employment. ii TABLE OF CONTENTS Title Page Acknowledgements Introduction vii Notes to Instructor ix Unit 1: Operational Planning 1.1 Handouts 1.29 Course Evaluation Form 1.99 Unit 2: Physical Facilities 2.1 Handouts 2.17 Course Evaluation Form 2.37 Unit 3: Financial Management 3.1 Handouts 3.25 Course Evaluation Form 3.91 Unit 4: Legal Issues in Child Care 4.1 Handouts 4.27 Course Evaluation Form 4.81 Unit 5: Curriculum Planning 5.1 Handouts 5.17 Course Evaluation Form 5.57 Unit 6: Staff 6.1 Handouts 6.21 Course Evaluation Form 6.113 Unit 7: Parent and Community Relations 7.1 Handouts 7.19 Course Evaluation Form 7.33 Unit 8: Enrollment 8.1 Handouts 8.15 Course Evaluation Form 8.41 Appendix A: Resource List 1 Appendix B: Bibliography 3 Appendix C: Index of Handouts 15 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT The development of this publication is dueto the commitment of some very hardworking individuals. We would like to expressour appreciation to Janice Wheelon McAdams of the Frank Porter Graham Child Development Center, ChapelHill, North Carolina, for the preparation of thematerial. The job task analysis, design of thecourse, advice on content, and review of the material was the work ofa task force composed of the following individuals: Peggy Ball, Program Coordinator Sue Creech, Chairman Educational Occupations Programs Early Childhood Associate Program Occupationill Program Services Pitt Community College N. C. Dept. of Community Colleges Greenville, North Carolina Raleigh, North Carolina Hope Drayton, Director Jan Keller, Head Worthdale Child Care Center Program Development Branch Raleigh, North Carolina Office of Day Care Services N. C. Dept. of Human Resourcas Raleigh, North Carolina Susan Law, Executive Director Beth May, Unit Supervisor Northwest Child Development Training and Technical Assistance Council, If Office of Day Care Services Winston-Salem, .arth Carolina N. C. Dept. of Human Resources Raleigh, North Carolina Janet Nickerson, Coordinator Jean Price, Chairman CDA and Training Early Childhood Associate Program Office of Child Day Care Licensing Davidson County Community College N. C. Dept. of Administration Lexington, North Carolina Raleigh, North Carolina Judie Rice, Education/ Don Smith, Administration . Career Developmert Coordinator Management Specialist Operation Breakthrough, Inc./ CABLE - STF Headstart N. C. A & T State University Durham, North Carolina Greensboro, North Carolina A very special thanks is extended to Sue Creech, Susan Law and Beth May who went beyond the usual task force responsibilities in locating resources, checking irformation and preparing material. Their discerning and perceptive criticism was of great value. We would also like to thank Carl C. Staley, Jr., ExecutiveDirector of United Da.).Care Services, Greensboro, North Carolina, and Sally Nussbaumo,., former director of the Frank Porter Graham Day CareCenter, Chapel dill, North Carolina, for their review of selectedportions of thisAterial. Their remarks and suggestions proved very helpful. We extend to Charlott Cole special appreciation for her typing and technical assistance on this publication. Project Coordinators Peggy Ball Jan Keller Janet Nickerson '7 vi INTRODUCTION There are 83,531 children enrolled in 2,226 licensed daycare centers in North Carolina. Some of those centers are large operations with extensive staff and enrollment. Others are a single individual who serves as both teacher and director. Each year many of those centers close their doors while an almost equal number of new centers open. This seems to be the clearest type of indication that child care centers offer a vital service, but successful operation is difficult. It is the job of the director of a child care center to assure the success of the operation. That is a difficult job for any director, and the list of units in this course indicates the complexity of that job. It is an especially complicated and difficult job for a director who has had little or no training in child care center administration. There are many child care centers that do an excellent job of fostering the growth of the children in their program, but they fail because the director lacks business skills. Conversely, many well-managed child care centers offer poor curriculums for the children or do a less than adequate job of community relations. The development of this course was initiated by three state agencies who had identified a specific need for comprehensive training about child care center administration. The primary criteria used for development was that the course be practical, job related, and specific to North Carolina. The resulting product is a course that is a statement of the need for good successful child care centers and the belief that such centers depend on the knowledge and skills of their directors. vii ) LV NOTES TO INSTRUCTORS The writing and design of this course was based on the following assumptions. I. This is a basic survey course for directors. It seeks to explain what the director does. 2. The course does not address the start-up of centers and therefore does not include information on center goals and objectives or detailed information on child development. These topics are mentioned where applicable but not included as material to be taught. 3. The material has been written for directors in North Carolina and includes information and examples specific to this state. It would be necessary to make some adaptations for use in another state. This course consists of eight units based on the areas of responsibility of a child care center director. These include operational planning, physical facilities, financial management, legal issues, curriculum planning, staff, parent and community relations, and enrollment. Each unit consists of the following components. 1. Job tasks and instructional performance objectives 2. The content of the unit including .knowledge or skills needed to fulfill job tasks . suggestedteaching methods .materials suggested to accompany knowledge and methods The layout
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