Five articles respond to the Child Centers study in this issue: (1) discusses reasons why child care providers are rated low; (2) suggests heeding constructive recommendations made by the study team; (3) analyzes impact of mediocre care on black children; (4) examines effect of making the study public; and (5) presents study findings that reflect…

This speech addresses itself to the problems involved in building an effective child advocacy movement. Especially considered are the typical arguments of those who oppose the movement. (CS)

Describes the historic and current need for volunteers in Head Start programs. Focuses on volunteer recruitment, senior volunteers, volunteer assessment, matching volunteers and centers, staff-volunteer relationship, and volunteer supervision. Lists resources for involving and managing volunteers. (KB)

Presents guidelines to be used when legislation which would expand existing early childhood programs for young children or create new programs is being considered. The categories for these guidelines include provisions for program standards to ensure quality programs; parental access and involvement; service eligibility; interagency linkages and…

Points out that teachers with specialized training in early childhood education tend to focus on adult-directed cognitive development. Offers recommendations on how training programs can help teachers enhance the development of the whole child in more child-centered programs. (BB)

A survey examined why many early childhood programs either stalled or gave up during the self-study phase of the accreditation process. Significant factors cited by survey participants were lack of time and staff turnover/program instability. Based on these results, it was recommended that the early childhood community address the issues of…

A survey of 106 day care center directors found that accreditation helped the majority to better market their programs, improve program components, and improve staff morale. Nearly 95% reported that program reaccreditation would be sought. (MDM)

Recounts how a child care director's extended absence led to a gradual decline in program quality and how the self-study process for NAEYC program accreditation improved the quality of the program. Discusses the lessons learned and actions taken to achieve accreditation. Includes a list of pertinent books and articles for program directors. (KB)

Explores four questions: What is child day care? Is day day-care regulation sufficiently different from 24-hour care licensing to require a whole new statutory base? Is facility licensure the most appropriate regulatory safeguard for all categories of day care? What other regulatory safeguards are needed? (Author/DB)

Recommends that the Department of Health and Human Services ensure that every Head Start program can strive for excellence; expand the number of children served and the scope of services provided; and encourage community and school partnerships to ensure continuity of services, facilitate state and local collaboration, and link Head Start with…

Maintains that the United States tolerates an ineffective system of early education and professional preparation. Notes challenges to the field, including insufficient teacher preparation, outdated teacher professional development approaches, ineffective use of research findings to improve early childhood programs, and failure to understand,…

Describes problems for a university-based child development laboratory of decreased university funding, overworked staff, and huge public demand. Explains that instead of conventional responses, the program was redesigned by decreasing enrollment and increasing length of the remaining program, thereby maintaining income levels and addressing…

Examines reasons for the differing perceptions of teachers and parents about the quality of early childhood programs. Suggests focusing energy on the daily quality of work with children because, when teachers provide quality experiences, parents notice and are more likely to express their support in the policy and political arena where early…

Describes a study of relationships among costs of child care, nature of children's child care experiences, and their effects on children. Findings in the areas of quality; costs, revenue, and support; sector comparisons; and economic environment reveal that most child care is mediocre in quality. Makes recommendations to improve child care. (BAC)

Presents 15 ways for teachers to make early childhood programs developmentally appropriate. (BB)