Iowa Administrative Code › Agency 441 - Human Services Department › Title XII - Licensing and Approved Standards › Chapter 118 - Child Care Quality Rating System › Rule 441-118.1 - Definitions

Current through Register Vol. 47, No. 3, July 24, 2024
"Aim4Excellence credential"
means the
				  national director credential for early childhood administrators that is
				  administered by the McCormick Center for Early Childhood Leadership.
"Apprenticeship certificate"
means a
				  nationally recognized Child Care Development Specialist Registered
				  Apprenticeship Certificate awarded by the U.S. Department of Labor The
				  certificate requires two years of full-time employment with on-the-job training
				  and 288 hours (at least 19 credits) of approved, related college education or
				  training.
"Child care facility"
means a licensed child
				  care center, a preschool, or a registered child development home.
"Child care nurse consultant"
means a
				  registered nurse licensed in the state of Iowa who has completed training using
				  a nationally approved curriculum for health and safety in child care and early
				  education. The child care nurse consultant provides on-site consultation,
				  technical assistance, and training to child care and early education providers
				  regarding health and safety. The child care nurse consultant is employed by or
				  has a written agreement with the local Title V maternal and child health agency
				  or contracts for service delivery directly through the state-level Title V
				  maternal and child health program administered by the Iowa department of public
				  health, bureau of family health.
"Child development associate credential (CDA)
				  "
means a credential awarded by the council for Professional
				  Recognition to individuals working in child care settings who demonstrate
				  proficiency in specific competency standards. The credential requires 120 hours
				  of approved training over the past five years.
"ChildNet certification "
means verified
				  completion of the 25-hour ChildNet training series in areas specifically
				  designed for child development home providers and completion of the
				  certification process.
"Department"
means the department of human
				  services.
"Eligible applicants "
means programs
				  meeting the definition of "child care facility" or programs operating under the
				  authority of an accredited school district or nonpublic school.
"Environment rating scale "
means a child
				  care program assessment instrument (scale) developed through the auspices of
				  the Frank Porter Graham Child Development Center of the University of North
				  Carolina at Chapel Hill. The scale is the measurement tool used by an assessor
				  during an on-site observation of a child care classroom to evaluate and provide
				  a score to a child care program. Scales must be administered by entities
				  approved by the department of human services or the department's designee. Four
				  scales are available, based on the type of program being assessed:
1. Family child care environment rating scale
				for programs conducted in a provider's own home for children from infancy
				through school age.
2.
				Infant/toddler environment rating scale for group programs for children from
				birth to 2½ years of age.
3.
				Early childhood environment rating scale for group programs for children of
				preschool through kindergarten age, 2½ to 5 years.
4. School-age care environment rating scale
				for group programs for children of school age, 5 to 12 years.
"Head Start program performance standards"
means the standards that define the services that Head Start programs are
				  required to provide to the children and families they serve. The standards
				  constitute the expectations and requirements that Head Start grantees must
				  meet.
"Iowa quality preschool program standards"
means standards developed by the Iowa department of education, based on the ten
				  standards of the National Association for the Education of Young Children
				  accreditation.
"National administrator credential (NAC)"
means the 40-hour comprehensive training for child care and education
				  administrators and successful completion of the certification process.
"Staff in the classroom "
means staff
				  responsible for care of children in the classroom.