This program evaluation focused on the Palcare Literacy Innovation Project. The general research problem was to see if the enhanced preschool literacy project would show an improvement in the preschool classroom literacy environment, overall parent participation and a deeper connection to the community over a three-year period. The specific gap in…

This study seeks explores how Latina student mothers mediate their educational success by understanding how students balance their educational responsibilities with motherhood. This qualitative study utilizes funds of knowledge (Moll, Amanti, Neff, & González, 1992) as a theoretical framework to identify and document the wealth of knowledge,…

Through "teacher research", teachers engage in the systematic study of their own practice to answer questions they have about teaching and learning, and their own effectiveness. This book explores what teacher research in the early childhood setting looks like, why it is important to the field of early childhood education, and how…

This study was an investigation of a community college child development centers' leadership best practices and center teacher morale. A review of the literature focused on high and low teacher morale and leadership best practices. This quantitative study was conducted using the survey-design method with an adapted version of the Purdue Teacher…

Research shows that children benefit when they are served by stable and highly trained center-based staff and caregivers. Responding to the unequal distribution of child-care supply across the state and a need for well-trained caregivers, First 5 California approved an initiative to train early care and education (ECE) staff using different…

This revised Program Quality Review Instrument focuses on the evaluation of seven functional components of center-based, preschool-age child development programs in California. The components are: (1) philosophy, goals, and objectives; (2) administration; (3) assessment of child and family; (4) developmental programming; (5) parent education and…

This report describes the organization and function of general child care and development programs, special programs and the State Preschool Program administered by the California State Department of Education. Also examined are the funding sources, eligibility criteria for participation, and program requirements. In addition to child development…

Over half of this nation's children 5 years and under are in nonparental care while their parents work. Research indicates that children benefit from being with well-trained, consistent early care and education staff. Staff retention is crucial because frequent turnover impedes the formation of positive nurturing relationships between caregivers…

Developed by a task force of child development personnel from colleges throughout California, these guidelines seek to establish a standard of excellence for new and existing child development centers and instructional programs in the state's community colleges. Introductory material provides information on the charge, role, members, and resource…

Parents and policymakers are turning to preschools to better advance the school readiness and broader development of young children. Much remains unknown, including how preschool programs of varying quality affect diverse groups of children. This is particularly important as several California counties embark on ambitious and costly efforts to…

This progress report highlights findings from the first year of a 3-year evaluation of the Matching Funds for Retention program, a child-care retention incentive (CRI) program. It includes initial rates of professional development, training, and retention of 677 program participants in four California counties (Napa, San Luis Obispo, Siskiyou, and…

Background information is provided on child development programs and services in California community colleges. First, the report outlines the current status of child development centers and the three kinds of centers currently operated (i.e., lab schools, child care programs, and combination programs); the number and types of centers in…

The Women's Re-entry Education Program (WREP) at De Anza Community College is an attempt to give women who are educationally deprived the opportunity to gain skills that will enable them to function in, and contribute to, the economic mainstream of America. The primary objectives of WREP are to help students: (1) believe in their ability to gain…

This is a case study of the TRY Foundation, a privately funded non-profit corporation devoting its resources to "community and human development in disadvantaged areas." Activities sponsored by its primate unit, the Willowbrook Chapter of Watts, Los Angeles, include: thrift shop, preventive dentistry clinic, Operation Vegetable…

Child development programs at the 103 California community colleges were studied to justify and demonstrate the need for continued project development of on-campus laboratory facilities. Information, collected from college catalogs, directories, and telephone interviews with college personnel, was analyzed to clarify confusing terminology and to…