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Outstanding child care centers
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to generate a configuration of traits that profile or describe the makeup of excellent child care centers. This study was designed as multi-site qualitative research. Five child care centers were selected which had been identified as outstanding by experts in the field of early childhood education. Among others, experts included researchers, professors, and licensing personnel. The child care centers studied represented a variety of programs: A corporate sponsored center, a university-based center, a hospital-supported center, a child care program as part of a public school system and an individual community-based center. Families who utilized these child care centers had annual incomes which ranged from below poverty level to upper middle class. Racial and ethnic groups well represented in this study included Causasians, Blacks and Hispanics. Other minority groups were included in a lesser degree. Children in these centers ranged in age from eight weeks to approximately six years of age. Some programs also included before/after school care for children six to ten years old. Data were collected at each of the five child care centers through interviews and surveys. Interviews were conducted individually with directors, and in small groups with teachers and parents at each location. Surveys were completed by teachers and parents at the centers. A Likert scale was used for responses on the surveys. A total of approximately 299 parents and 179 teachers were surveyed. Each center studied had unique features. However, the study also found commonalities which were consistent among all centers. These traits included: Children are valued, philosophy, parent involvement, staff, leadership, relationships, environment, innovation, organization, location, program, and funding. The results of this study may help in understanding the nature as well as the diversity of good child care. Specifically, results raised questions about appropriate parent involvement, funding, leadership, staffing, and the role relationships play in child care settings.
Subject Area
Preschool education
Recommended Citation
Reckmeyer, Mary Catherine, "Outstanding child care centers" (1990). ETD collection for University of Nebraska-Lincoln. AAI9030147.
https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/dissertations/AAI9030147