ECE Lecture Notes Review

Flashcards generated from lecture notes on Early Childhood Education policies, funding, and organizational structures.

What are the three levels of government involved in managing and funding GCE programs?

Federal, Provincial/Territorial, and Municipal governments

What are the main challenges in Early Childhood Education (ECE)?

Access, Quality, and Funding

What infrastructural elements are necessary for a high-quality early learning and child care system?

Policy, planning, program delivery organized in one lead department; legislation as a basis; regulations defining minimum standards; monitoring; quality improvement mechanisms; public education about early learning and child care.

What aspect of governance is a key element of a high-quality early learning and child care system?

Roles and responsibilities

What does governance in a high-quality early learning and child care system include?

A clear statement of values underpinning the program; definition of government roles at different levels; public management at a system level; non-profit operation; appropriate community, researcher, parent, and child involvement.

What is public policy advocacy, often called 'lobbying'?

Attempting to challenge and reform public systems.

What is informational advocacy, often called 'educational advocacy'?

Raising public awareness.

What issues are examined behind advocacy in ECE?

Compensation, Quality, Accessibility.

Name direct strategies of advocacy for non-profit childcare.

Direct new funding only to non-profits, restrict new licenses to non-profits, shift responsibility to the public service.

What is the typical organizational structure of a non-profit child care center?

Board of directors, supervisor/director, teachers, cook, custodian.

Who typically makes up the board of directors in a non-profit childcare centre?

Parents using the services.

What three things is public policy developed by?

Education/research, advocacy, mobilization of interest groups.

What is a policy?

A rule or decision made up and enforced to control behaviors of people.

What should a high-quality early learning and child care system provide for children?

First-rate learning, safe and nurturing environment, well-cared for and happy children.

According to Katz (1993), what are the different perspectives on quality in childcare?

Expert (top-down), Children's (bottom-up), Staff (inside), Parents (outside-inside), Community (outside).

In a for-profit childcare situation, what role do parents have?

Parents have no formal voice in policy or administration.

Why should the expansion of non-profit centres be supported?

Stronger mission, resources, high-quality care, better staff ratios, accountability, interaction with other services.

What are For-profit organizations allowed to do with their earnings that Non-profits are not?

Redistribute their earnings to shareholders or members.

What elements define a quality environment in ECE programs?

Ratio of employees to children, group size, equitable access, well-designed curriculum, quality of child-adult relationships, staff qualifications and consistency, family involvement, physical environment.

What are the three components of quality described in the lecture?

Respect, responsiveness, understanding development, work environment, funding.

What does the term 'auspice' refer to in organizational structure?

Legal status and ownership. who operates a service

What is an organizational structure?

A framework which grounds how a group is organized.

List three government roles in funding learning outcomes.

Federal, Provincial, and Municipal Roles

Name some federal government initiatives supporting child care/education in Canada.

Canada's Assistance Plan(1966-1995), National Children's Agenda (1997), Multilateral Framework on Early Learning and Child Care (2003), Foundations - QUAD (2004), Child Care Spaces Initiative - CCSI (2007).

Which of the following are responsibilities of Provincial/territorial Governments in Child Care?

Regulations, standards, policies, procedures, guidelines.

What requirements are typically overseen by municipal governments regarding ECE services?

Fires, safety, health, building codes, zoning by-laws.

What are the funding conflicts often between?

The children's needs, the staff's needs, and the families' needs.

What approaches are used for public funding for regulated child care?

Fee subsidies for low-income parents and operating grants.

What is a fiscal year?

12-month period used for accounting and budgeting purposes.

Describe start up budget?

One-time expenses that a business will incur.

What are the functions of budgeting in ECE programs?

Aligns financial planning with program goals, assesses needs, estimates revenues and expenses, monitors budget, engages stakeholders.

Who makes a budget in a for-profit childcare?

Owner (for profit), Supervisor/director with board approval (non-profit).

In Policy Development that ECEs need to research current research and identify what?

Research current practices and occupational standards

What is a regulation or standard in ECE?

A rule, directive, law, or standard that prescribes, directs, limits, and governs ECE programs.

What are the lowest and highest regulations or standards?

Protection of children's rights, licensing.

Under the 'Policies and Procedures' umbrella, what elements does the umbrella cover?

Principles, codes, methods, standards, and processes.

In the policy development flow chart, how are Best Practices defined?

Standards that guide practitioners based on current research.

What is a policy?

A written statement that explains a course of action towards achieving program goals.

What is the reason for policy and procedure establishment?

They help focus the program, protect the staff, children, and parents, provide a basis for evaluation.

Who develops policies and procedures in different types of childcare centers?

Owner (for-profit), Board of directors with supervisor/director (non-profit).

Licensing often requires staff manuals to include what written policies in order to operate?

The job qualifications, performance evaluation procedure, termination procedure and emergencies plans