Early Childhood

1. Chapter 3:
Understanding Regulations,
Accreditation Criteria, and
Other Standards of Practice
Planning and Administering Early Childhood Programs
Tenth Edition
Nancy Freeman
Celia A. Decker
John R. Decker
Prepared by:
Nancy K. Freeman
Tere Holmes
Kris Curtis

2. 3-2
Freeman/Decker/Decker, Planning and Administering Early Childhood Programs, 10e
© 2012, 2008, 2005, 2001, 1995 by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved
Definitions
•Regulation: A binding rule created outside
the program.
•Standard: A statement of expectations for
program characteristics and performance.

3. 3-3
Freeman/Decker/Decker, Planning and Administering Early Childhood Programs, 10e
© 2012, 2008, 2005, 2001, 1995 by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved
Types of Regulations
• Zoning regulations govern land use.
• Building codes address issues such as wiring,
plumbing, building materials.
• Fire and sanitation regulations set health and
safety standards.
• Child care licensing regulations establish minimal
levels of health & safety

4. 3-4
Freeman/Decker/Decker, Planning and Administering Early Childhood Programs, 10e
© 2012, 2008, 2005, 2001, 1995 by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved
States’ child care center
licensing codes typically address:
• The process of obtaining a license
• The program’s organization and administration
• Staffing patterns including required adult:child
ratios and group size

5. 3-5
Freeman/Decker/Decker, Planning and Administering Early Childhood Programs, 10e
© 2012, 2008, 2005, 2001, 1995 by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved
States’ child care center licensing
codes typically address: (continued)
• Minimal standards for facilities, supplies, &
equipment and provisions for transporting children
• Procedures to safeguard children’s health and
safety
• Types of activities that are to be part of children’s
daily routines including required activity centers

6. 3-6
Freeman/Decker/Decker, Planning and Administering Early Childhood Programs, 10e
© 2012, 2008, 2005, 2001, 1995 by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved
States’ child care center licensing codes
typically address: (continued)
• Allowable forms of discipline
• How programs are to communicate with and involve
families
• Nutritional content of meals & snacks, time intervals
between meals & snacks, and regulations about
posting menus.

7. 3-7
Freeman/Decker/Decker, Planning and Administering Early Childhood Programs, 10e
© 2012, 2008, 2005, 2001, 1995 by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved
Regulations for child care homes
• Compliance is usually voluntary
• Regulations are typically very similar to those for
centers
• Home-based programs are often registered instead
of licensed
○ Registration addresses health & safety and requires
criminal background checks

8. 3-8
Freeman/Decker/Decker, Planning and Administering Early Childhood Programs, 10e
© 2012, 2008, 2005, 2001, 1995 by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved
Administrators’ Qualifications
Licensure is most likely to require:
• Child Development Associate (CDA)
– the most frequently required specialized training
• Director’s credential from a community or technical
college - required by just 4 states

9. 3-9
Freeman/Decker/Decker, Planning and Administering Early Childhood Programs, 10e
© 2012, 2008, 2005, 2001, 1995 by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved
Accreditation
• A voluntary system of program evaluation
• Requires higher-than-minimal quality
• Requires substantial (not full) compliance
• Nationally developed, validated, and enforced
• NAEYC Program Accreditation is considered the “gold
standard”

10. 3-
Freeman/Decker/Decker, Planning and Administering Early Childhood Programs, 10e
© 2012, 2008, 2005, 2001, 1995 by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved
Quality Rating Improvement Systems
(QRIS)/ Quality Rating Systems (QRS)
• All states have QRIS/QRS in place or in development
(most are voluntary)
• Designed to help parents become more informed
consumers
• Designed to bridge the gap between minimal
standards (licensing) and accreditation

11. 3-
Freeman/Decker/Decker, Planning and Administering Early Childhood Programs, 10e
© 2012, 2008, 2005, 2001, 1995 by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved
Legal existence of private programs
Proprietorship
• Owned by one person
• Owner faces personal liability for all activities
• No separate entity, tax owed by owners
Partnership
• 2 or more owners
• Can own property as a separate legal entity
• Owners face personal liability for business wrongs
• No separate entity, tax owed by owners

12. 3-
Freeman/Decker/Decker, Planning and Administering Early Childhood Programs, 10e
© 2012, 2008, 2005, 2001, 1995 by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved
Types of private ownership (cont.)
Limited liability company (LLC)
• A separate legal entity
• Established by filing with the state
• Can be taxed like a partnership or corporation –
owner’s choice
• Limited personal liability for wrongdoings of employees
Corporation
• State law governs incorporation and operations
• A separate legal entity
• Operated by a board of directors
• Can be Subchapter “S” or “C”; “S” corporations have limited
corporate taxes

13. 3-
Freeman/Decker/Decker, Planning and Administering Early Childhood Programs, 10e
© 2012, 2008, 2005, 2001, 1995 by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved
Fiscal regulations
•Violations can result in civil and/or criminal
penalties. To avoid penalties:
–Honor all contracts
–Follow IRS regulations
○ Obtain Federal Employer Identification Number
(FEIN)
○ File required tax returns
○ Withhold appropriate taxes from employees

14. 3-
Freeman/Decker/Decker, Planning and Administering Early Childhood Programs, 10e
© 2012, 2008, 2005, 2001, 1995 by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved
Laws that protect the staff
and the program
• Civil Rights Act (1964) & Equal Opportunity Act (1972)
• American with Disabilities Act P.L. 101-336 (1990)
• Fair Labor Standards Act (1938)
• Family and Medical Leave Act (1993)
It is important to stay abreast of current developments.