There are a lot of easy-to-use online tools that can help teachers and administrators with the tough tasks involved in running efficient, responsive, and intentional programs. The efficiencies offered through these systems allow busy educators to spend less time managing information and more time doing the work that matters the most--working with…

Being a child care administrator today is like being on a winding road full of unexpected twists and turns. Embracing the challenges of quality rating and improvement systems (QRIS), Common Core Standards, state preschool standards, rising costs, and an increasingly competitive enrollment landscape are just a few of the curves one has to navigate…

A critical issue facing the nation today stems from the fact that many classroom teachers in Early Childhood Education lack adequate training. This deficit in the professional education of teachers impacts outcomes for children every day. This article discusses the establishment of a training system that has impacted Early Childhood education in…

When customers are facing job loss or tighter budgets, prospects are attempting to negotiate tuition fees, and subsidies are being cut, smart child care managers are studying the essential moves directors must take to increase and retain enrollment despite the volatile economy. Instead of using a tough economy as a reason enrollment drops, they…

Effective and easily accessible student support services are essential to the success of adult learners. A student-centered approach is especially important in the design and delivery of online courses, professional certificates, and degree programs for early childhood professionals. A student-first approach is essential for non-traditional adult…

This paper presents the country's early childhood educators' views from a survey conducted by "Exchange" regarding on trends affecting the early childhood segment of higher education. From the survey, five key trends were identified: (1) Shrinking student population--teachers are paid poorly so there is little incentive to invest resources in a…

Early care and education center directors have a whole host of reasons for printing comprehensive and informative parent handbooks. The parents of the children who attend early care and education centers have their own set of expectations and needs for information contained in parent handbooks. When these sets of needs and expectations collide, it…

Thirty international distance learning pioneers gathered in Montreal to share effective practices in the use of technology to educate early childhood professionals. The group represented a wide range of distance learning models, technologies, delivery systems, and learners. Participants came from ten countries and 14 states in the U.S. to learn…

From snow removal to dishwasher repair, from pest control to playground renovations, there are countless demands on a child care director's time and attention. A child care director is required to juggle a wide variety of roles and expectations related to facility management, often with very little training or expertise in this area. Some child…

Many tools have been created and utilized in an effort to assess the quality of early childhood programs, though few of these tools address the many programmatic elements of these programs. Some of the most comprehensive tools that are widely used are the Environmental Rating Scales developed by Thelma Harms, Debbie Cryer, and Richard Clifford.…