Iowa Admin. Code r. 441-118.3

Current through Register Vol. 47, No. 8, October 30, 2024

Rule 441-118.3 - Rating standards for child care centers and preschools (sunsetting on July 31, 2011)

For applications submitted under subrule 118.2(1), to participate in the quality rating system, a child care center or preschool shall certify that its facility meets the applicable criteria as defined in subrule 118.3(1).

(1)Criteria. Criteria for each rating level are defined as follows.

a.Level 1. To be rated at Level 1, a facility must either:

(1) Have a full or provisional license from the department of human services with no action pending to revoke or deny the license; or

(2) Operate under the authority of an accredited school district or nonpublic school.

b.Level 2. To be rated at Level 2, a facility must meet the following criteria:

(1) The facility must have a full license from the department of human services with no action pending to revoke or deny the license, or operate under the authority of an accredited school district or nonpublic school.

(2) The facility must complete the Iowa department of public health's Form HCCI-BPA2006, Child Care Business-Partnership Agreement.

(3) The facility must complete the Iowa department of public health's provider health and safety questionnaire. Form HCCI-CDOS2006, Child Care Center Director/Owner Survey.

(4) If eligible, the facility must participate in the child and adult care food program (CACFP), unless children are in attendance less than four hours per day and the program does not serve meals.

(5) The facility must have on duty in each room at all times at least one staff member who has completed training in mandatory reporting of child abuse, universal precautions and infectious disease control, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, and first aid as specified in 441-subrule 109.7(1) and subparagraphs 109.7(2)"a"(1) and (2).

(6) The facility must provide basic orientation for all staff before they begin work.

(7) All staff, including the facility's director, must complete Form 470-4234, Child Care Center Staff Self-Assessment, no more than 12 months before application for quality rating. The director must also complete Form 470-4233, Child Care Center Self-Assessment.

c.Level 3. To be rated at Level 3, a facility must meet the following criteria in addition to meeting the criteria for Level 2:

(1) The facility must earn a minimum of 10 points from the categories listed in subrules 118.3(2) through 118.3(6).

(2) The facility must earn at least one point from each category.

d. Level 4. To be rated at Level 4, a facility must meet the following criteria in addition to meeting the criteria for Level 2:

(1) The facility must earn a minimum of 18 points from the categories listed in subrules 118.3(2) through 118.3(6).

(2) The facility must earn at least one point from each category.

e. Level 5. To be rated at Level 5, a facility must meet the following criteria in addition to meeting the criteria for Level 2:

(1) The facility must earn aminimum of 26 points from the categories listed in subrules 118.13(2) through 118.13(6).

(2) The facility must earn at least one point from each category.

(2)Professional development. A child care center or preschool may earn a maximum of 12 points in the professional development category. Points are awarded as follows:

a. Credential. Two points are awarded if the facility director:

(1) Has a current national administrator credential; or

(2) Is a school principal licensed by the Iowa board of educational examiners.

b.Related degree. One point is awarded if at least one staff member at the facility has at least a bachelor's degree in education specific to the age group for whom the person provides care.

c.Education and experience. A facility may earn a maximum of nine points for staff education and experience. Programs may select up to two of the following options:

(1) Five points are awarded if at least 50 percent of staff in each classroom have a minimum of a bachelor's degree in education specific to the age group for whom they provide care.

(2) Four points are awarded if at least 5 0 percent of staff in each classroom have a minimum of an associate's degree in education specific to the age group for whom they provide care.

(3) Three points are awarded if at least 50 percent of staff in each classroom have a minimum of a child development associate credential or apprenticeship certificate.

(4) Two points are awarded if at least 50 percent of staff in each classroom have a minimum of either six college credit hours in education specific to the age group for whom they provide care or have a paraeducator certificate from the Iowa board of educational examiners.

(5) Two points are awarded if at least 50 percent of staff in each classroom have received a minimum of 30 hours of training beyond regulatory requirements in the last 12 months and have at least five years of experience working in a child care facility or a program operating under the authority of an accredited school district or nonpublic school.

(6) One point is awarded if at least 5 0 percent of staff in each classroom have received a minimum of 15 hours of training beyond regulatory requirements in the last 12 months.

(3)Health and safety. A child care center or preschool may earn a maximum of eight points in the health and safety category. Points are awarded as follows:

a. Injury prevention. A facility may earn a maximum of three points for injury prevention. Points are awarded as follows:

(1) One point is awarded if the facility completes the Iowa department of public health's Form HCCI-IP2006, Injury Prevention Summary Report, during a visit with a child care nurse consultant.

(2) Two points are awarded if the child care nurse consultant verifies that the facility has started the process of making recommended corrections.

(3) Three points are awarded if the child care nurse consultant verifies that the facility has completed all corrections.

b. Child record review. A facility may earn a maximum of two points for child record review. Points are awarded as follows:

(1) One point is awarded if the facility completes the Iowa department of public health's Form HCCI-CRR2006, Child Record Review, during a visit with a child care nurse consultant.

(2) Two points are awarded if the child care nurse consultant verifies that the facility has worked with the child care nurse consultant to refer families to health care providers.

c. Health and safety assessment. A facility may earn a maximum of three points for health and safety assessment. Points are awarded as follows:

(1) One point is awarded if the facility completes the Iowa department of public health's Form HCCI-HSA2006, Health and Safety Assessment, during a visit with the child care nurse consultant.

(2) Two points are awarded if the child care nurse consultant verifies that the facility has developed a plan of action to correct deficiencies.

(3) Three points are awarded if the child care nurse consultant verifies that the facility has completed all corrections.

(4)Environment. A child care center or preschool may earn a maximum of II points in the environment category. Points are awarded as follows:

a. Environment rating scale training and self-assessment.

(1) One point is awarded if the facility director or assistant director completes approved training on using the infant/toddler environment rating scale, the early childhood environment rating scale, or the school-age care environment rating scale to evaluate and improve the facility before outside evaluation.

(2) One point is awarded if, after completing training on how to use the infant/toddler environment rating scale, the early childhood environment rating scale, or the school-age care environment rating scale, the facility director or assistant director completes a self-assessment of at least one-third of the facility's classrooms, including at least one classroom in each age group served by the facility using the appropriate environment rating scale.

(3) One point is awarded if, after completing training on how to use the infant/toddler environment rating scale, the early childhood environment rating scale, or the school-age care environment rating scale, the facility director or assistant director completes Form 470-4288, Child Care Center Improvement Plan, based on the environment rating scale self-assessment. Form 470-4288 must be completed for each room for which a self-assessment was completed.

b. Environment rating scale. A facility may earn a maximum of three points on the environment rating scale. The facility director or assistant director must complete training on the use of one of the environment rating scales before requesting assessment. An assessor approved by the department of human services or the department's designee must perform the environment rating assessment. At least one-third of the facility's classrooms must be assessed, including at least one classroom in each age group served by the facility. Points are awarded as follows:

(1) One point is awarded if the facility receives an average score of 3 on a scale of 7 (with no subscale scores lower than 2) on the infant/toddler environment rating scale, the early childhood environment rating scale, or the school-age care environment rating scale.

(2) Two points are awarded if the facility receives an average score of 4 on a scale of 7 (with no subscale scores lower than 2) on the infant/toddler environment rating scale, the early childhood environment rating scale, or the school-age care environment rating scale.

(3) Three points are awarded if the facility receives an average score of 5 on a scale of 7 (with no subscale scores lower than 2) on the infant/toddler environment rating scale, the early childhood environment rating scale, or the school-age care environment rating scale.

c.Iowa quality preschool program standards. A facility may earn a maximum of two points on the Iowa quality preschool program standards. Points are awarded as follows:

(1) One point is awarded if the facility completes training on Iowa quality preschool program standards.

(2) One point is awarded if the facility completes the Iowa quality preschool program standards self-assessment and develops a quality improvement plan.

d.Accreditation. A facility may earn a maximum of three points for accreditation. Points are awarded as follows:

(1) One point is awarded if the facility meets accreditation standards for group or class size from an accrediting body identified in subparagraph (2) that is appropriate to the child care setting.

(2) Three points are awarded if the facility is accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children, the National Afterschool Association, or another accrediting body approved by the department of human services or if a Head Start program demonstrates compliance with Head Start program performance standards.

(5)Family and community partnerships. A child care center or preschool may earn a maximum of two points in the family and community partnerships category. Points are awarded as follows:

a. One point is awarded if the facility or the facility director is a member of a professional organization specific to the age group for whom care is provided.

b. One point is awarded if the facility provides orientation for new parents and holds annual conferences with parents.

(6)Leadership and administration. A child care center or preschool may earn a maximum of four points in the leadership and administration category. Points are awarded as follows:

a. One point is awarded if the facility completes yearly written evaluations for all staff

b. One point is awarded if the facility develops and updates Form 470-4235, Child Care Center Improvement Plan, annually.

c. One point is awarded if all staff complete Form 470-4236, Professional Development Plan.

d. One point is awarded if all staff who have direct contact with children have a full, facility-based orientation within four months of beginning employment with the facility.

Iowa Admin. Code r. 441-118.3

ARC 9257B, lAB 12/1/10, effective 2/1/11