Quality Corner

Changes Coming to Kentucky All Stars For Family Child Care Homes

As announced earlier in the year, the Kentucky All STARS Program is transitioning from the Family Child Care Environmental Rating Scales REVISED Edition (FCCERS-R) to the Family Child Care Environmental Rating Scales THIRD Edition (FCCERS-3).

The third edition of the FCCERS is a recent revision that introduces changes in both the content and the administration of the scale. Much or the scale will be very familiar to you if you’ve used FCCERS-R. Some changes you will notice in FCCERS-3 are:

Less attention is spent counting materials and more attention is placed on how the provider uses the materials with the children.
More focus is placed on interactions.
New language items have been added.
Scoring is based on observation only.
Parents and Staff Subscales have been removed.

Starting in August 2024 and onward, Certified and Type II providers are required to have a FCCERS-3 Environmental Rating for Kentucky All STARS levels 3-5.

For more information on the FCCERS-3, please click here.

As always, contact your Family Child Care Specialist with any questions or concerns!

Regulation Reminder

When it is hot outside, the first activity we think of is having a water day! Make sure you are following the newly updated regulations when thinking about using a pool for your water day. Licensed Programs cannot use a swimming pool or any natural bodies of water. If you are wondering what to use for water day, contact your Specialist for further clarification!

Save the Date!

Professional Development Training

View the WKU FCCN Training Calendar for more information and to register.

Personalized training based on YOUR needs!

The WKU FCCN offers customized and affordable training on a variety of topics.

Training Request Form

Lesson Planning for Multiple Ages

Lesson Planning can take a good chunk of time from any provider’s day. Lesson planning when you have children of different ages and abilities can be an added challenge that may not be thought of when writing down a quick plan at the end of the week. So let’s talk about quality lesson plans, how to incorporate multiple ages, and create some templates for your program to takeaway.

FREE TRAINING

The Family Child Care Network will be offering a 4-part training series focusing on strengthening business practices. The purpose of this training is to strengthen childcare providers’ foundational knowledge of fiscal terms, concepts, and practices. It encourages providers to realize the importance of financial planning to the sustainability of their business. It provides tips and best practices to help break down fiscal processes into manageable steps.

This training is intended to be one part of the learning process to build providers’ understanding of good business practices.

Whenever possible, it is recommended that this training be supplemented with technical assistance and ongoing peer-to-peer sharing opportunities such as communities of practice. During this training, you will be introduced to financial reports that can help you better manage your center’s finances. We will also be helping you understand the concept of internal controls and how they can strengthen your program's fiscal health.

Each month the WKU FCCN provides independent studies. Independent studies are online and work at your own pace. They are available for registration until the 15th of each month. Independent studies must be completed within two weeks.

Topics include:

Being Prepared for Emergencies
Caring For Infants In a Mixed-age Setting
Curriculum-based Assessment
Developmental Screening
Evaluating Your Services
Family Engagement
Family Engagement: Literacy Bags
Health, Safety, and Nutrition
Infant and Toddler Development
Early Childhood Environments: Learning through Routines and Rituals
Language and Communication for Infant and Toddlers
Let’s Get Appy
Parent Handbooks
Preventing Burnout
Recognizing and Reporting Child Abuse Neglect and Safe Sleep
Science in an Early Learning Classroom
Social Studies in an Early Learning Classroom
The Stressed Child
The Value of Play

Training Calendar

A publication of the WKU Family Child Care Network

Funded through Family Childcare Support Award SC 7362100001482

www.wku.edu/fccn