Quality Rating and Improvement for West Virginia Child Care

• In Event: Roundtable Session 96
  In Roundtable Session: Professional Development and Leadership Learning Opportunities and Strategies

Abstract

We provide a baseline assessment of the current quality of early childcare environments in West Virginia and make recommendations for improvement of those sites. We randomly selected and assessed 179 (47%) of the 382 childcare centers and 83 (5%) of the 1689 family child care homes/facilities statewide using the Environmental Rating Scales standardized observational assessments. Consistent with the AERA theme for 2012, “Non Satis Scire”, to know the current quality of early childcare environments in West Virginia is not enough without implementing specific recommendations and structures to facilitate continued improvement in specific sites and thereby statewide. Partnering with [state government agency blinded for review] has positioned us uniquely to impact the quality of early care and education in West Virginia.

Authors

• Reagan Curtis, West Virginia University

• Barbara Warash, West Virginia University

• Terence C. Ahern, West Virginia University

• Keri Smith, West Virginia University

• Philip Kontor Adu, The Chicago School of Professional Psychology

• Chris Clausell, West Virginia University