Using Training As a Means To Improve the Level of Quality in Child Care Facilities.

This practicum was designed to increase the quality of service in five day care centers in a metropolitan Florida county, as evidenced by increases in the Early Childhood Environmental Rating Scale (ECERS) scores of early childhood teacher participants. A 10-week teacher education program for 5 early childhood teachers was developed around Marilyn Segal's 1991 "All About Child Care: A Comprehensive Child Care Curriculum." Nine 4-hour classes focused on safety, health, the learning environment, communication strategies, physical development, cognitive development, creative development, self-concept, and social skills, while the 10th week of the program focused on the creation an individual resource files. Pre- and post-intervention ECERS scores were developed by observing the participants in their day care center classrooms. All five participants made significant improvements in their ECERS scores, especially in the areas of furnishings/displays and creative activities. Eight appendices provide ECERS pre- and post-test scores, total ECERS scores, profiles of participants, a professional development plan, a resource file, competency goal statement guidelines and checklist, implementation plan class agendas, and a comparison on pre- and post-test ECERS scores. Contains 49 references and a list of 6 videos. (MDM)