E.X.C.E.L.

EXcellent Care for Early Learning Guidelines

Supporting High Quality Early Learning for Infants and Toddlers

Overview

Relationships matter!  According to a recent study of child care professionals (CCPs) caring for infants and toddlers in Kansas, technical assistance was found to be highly correlated to increased quality of child care.  To support this finding, the Infant/Toddler Specialists based in fifteen local Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies will provide intensive technical assistance to CCPs across Kansas who care for infants and toddlers.  This service is named EXCEL (EXcellent Care for Early Learning).

The goal of providing the EXCEL services are to enhance the quality of early learning programs by making all environments safe, secure, nurturing and stimulating places for children.  Particular emphasis will be on the professional relationship between the CCP and the Infant/Toddler Specialist to determine the focus of program improvement.  The technical assistance services are based on the belief that CCPs can best decide how to improve the quality of the services they offer to children and families.  This can best be accomplished with the assistance and support of another professional, namely the Infant/Toddler Specialist, who is dedicated to improving overall child care for our state’s youngest citizens.

We recognize that changes necessary for improving the quality of infant and toddler child care are done incrementally over time.  We also understand that sustained change happens with intensive, ongoing support and additional resources.  Professional development, technical support, and additional materials and equipment are all necessary for program improvements.  All of these components are a part of the EXCEL services described in this Guidelines document. 

Enrolling Child Care Professionals

Each Infant/Toddler Specialist will recruit and enroll twenty (20) child care professionals (CCPs) in their service delivery area to participate in this long-term technical assistance relationship. 
Each group of five EXCEL participants must meet the following guidelines:

1. At least two (2) of the five CCPs will be enrolled in the SRS subsidy system.
2. At least one (1) CCP must be new – have started her/his business or employed in a child care center within the past year (12 months).
3. At least one (1) CCP must be experienced – at least 5 years in the family child care business or employed as a child care center teacher.
4. All five (5) CCPs must have infants and/or toddlers (under 36 months) in their child care setting.
5. The participants in the EXCEL service may also be receiving services from other quality enhancement initiatives including Early Head Start, Smart Start, T.E.A.C.H., WAGE$, etc.
6. Infant/Toddler Specialists may apply to enroll CCPs for a second year.  CCPs are limited to a maximum of two years enrollment in EXCEL.  Note: Enrollment and Renewal application forms are included in the Appendix. 

Selection Process

The methods used to recruit child care professionals to enroll in the EXCEL services may include the following at the discretion of the R&R:

1. A competitive application process with selection criteria locally developed and approved by the I/T Project Director. (A Sample Application form is included in the Appendix.)
2. Participants may be selected by the R&R Supervisor and I/T Specialist.
1. Recommendations may be accepted from local partners such as child care licensing, Early Head Start, Part-C, or other.
3. Participants may be selected from outlying counties or in the home county of the R&R at the discretion of the R&R Supervisor and I/T Specialist.

Participation

Participation by child care professionals in the EXCEL services is voluntary.  The goal of EXCEL is to improve the quality of child care for infants and toddlers and to encourage child care professionals (CCP’s) to remain in the child care profession with the support of an experienced professional.  Special focus this contract year will be on increasing healthy food choices and activity.
In the Agreement to Participate, the CCP’s are asked to give 30 days notice when withdrawing from the service.
If the CCP must withdraw from the service within the first 60 days of the contract year, the Infant/Toddler Specialist may choose to enroll another participant.  Infant/Toddler Specialists may contact the Infant/Toddler Project Director to discuss other options. 

For More Information Contact: