The Director's Link Newsletter – Fall 2006
Add Impact to Your Messages About Children's Learning Through Strategic Communication

[Cover Story by Judy Helm] In addition to the challenges of supporting staff and keeping an early childhood center running smoothly, directors are routinely called upon to defend the value of the active, engaged learning experiences they provide in their programs. Many directors have experienced losing an enrolled family to a highly structured and academically-focused program because parents have a misunderstanding that "children are learning in that other program. All they do here is play." This is especially troublesome since we know that experiences such as looking at picture books, building elaborate block structures, and learning to work with others are the experiences that will have long term impact on their academic achievement. Read more »

Research Notes – Fall 2006
Making the Most of Connections to Support License-Exempt Child Care Providers

In 2004, federal and state monies underwrote a large proportion of the child care services for over 1.7 million children from income-eligible families. Nationally, 26% of these children were cared for in settings in which a government-issued license to operate is not required, those the U.S. Child Care Bureau defines as "legally operating without regulation." While this figure accurately suggests that about one in four American children served by publicly-funded subsidies is cared for in license-exempt settings, in many geographic areas the percentages are quite higher. In Illinois for instance, the use of license-exempt child care accounts for nearly half (48%) of all children receiving services via the Illinois Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP), a level that directly impacts more than 150,000 children. Read more »

Digital Photography Workshop – Chicago ($35)
January 12, 2007

Are you ready to bring the world of digital photography to your center? Learn about pixels and image sizes; capturing, storing, and sharing images; and displaying your images in marketing and promotional materials. Participants will receive four hours of instruction and have access to follow-up technical assistance online. This workshop will be held at National-Louis University in Chicago from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Space is limited. For more information, click here to download a brochure or contact Debra Trude-Suter at (800) 443-5522, ext. 5056 to reserve your spot today.

Computer Training for Early Childhood Administrators: Beginner Course – Skokie, IL ($75)
January 16, 23 and February 6, 13, 20, 27, 2007

Administering an effective and efficient early childhood program in today’s world requires expertise in computer technology. Let us help you improve your computer skills and integrate technology into the management of your child care program. This course consists of six class sessions. There is also an additional online component and follow-up assignments to reinforce the skills you have learned. Classes will meet at National-Louis University in Skokie, IL from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Space is limited. For more information, click here to download a brochure or contact Debra Trude-Suter at (800) 443-5522, ext. 5056.

PAS Assessment and Reliability Training – Wheeling, IL ($650)
January 3-5 and March 26-28, 2007

The Center will be conducting training for individuals interested in becoming reliable assessors for the Program Administration Scale (PAS). This 3-day training is designed for technical assistance specialists, quality monitors, management consultants, researchers, and other professionals interested in using the PAS to reliably assess early childhood leadership and management practices and help center directors improve the quality of their programs. Assessor training will include an overview of the reliability and validity of the instrument, interview protocol for collecting data, and how to score indicators and items, and developing a computer-generated program profile. Participants of this training are eligible to become Certified PAS Assessors. Space is limited. For more information, click here to download a flyer or contact Jill Bella and (800) 443-5522, ext. 5059 to reserve your spot today.

Family Child Care Institute: Program Quality Evaluation – Normal, IL/Chicago ($99)
February 23-24 and May 12, 2007

This institute provides an introduction to program evaluation, stressing the importance of ongoing assessment to improve program quality and practices. Participants will be introduced to the Family Child Care Environment Rating Scale-Revised (FCCERS-R) to assess the learning environment, as well as other measures to assess the quality of business practices, parent satisfaction, and community responsiveness. In addition, participants will learn about the National Association for Family Child Care (NAFCC) Quality Standards for Accreditation and how to begin the self-study process for accreditation. This training will be conducted over three days with the first two days meeting at Heartland Community College in Normal, IL from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The final day will be held in conjunction with Leadership Connections at the Chicago Marriott O'Hare from 8:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Space is limited. For more information, click here to download a brochure or contact Debra Trude-Suter at (800) 443-5522, ext. 5056 to reserve your spot today.

Leadership Connections – Chicago ($375, before February 1)
May 10-12, 2007

Don't miss out on this extraordinary conference designed especially for early childhood administrators. Be inspired by national experts and learn creative solutions to the challenges of delivering high-quality early childhood services. Open to early childhood leaders across the country, Leadership Connections is a great opportunity to interact with others who are making a difference in their communities. This conference experience will validate what you know and are already doing while challenging you to think about your work in new ways. This conference will be held at the Chicago Marriott O'Hare. Online registration available soon »