Iowa Even Start Indicators of Quality for Programs

 

The Iowa Indicators of Quality were developed jointly by the Even Start Staff, the State Coordinator and specialists in family literacy and program administration.

 

Iowa Even Start programs will work to assist participants in improving their lives by offering educational opportunities for low-income families through a unified family literacy program that integrates early childhood, adult, and parenting education.

 

Objective I.

 

Even Start Programs will integrate adult, child, and family components to provide high quality family literacy programs.

 

Indicator #1

 

Identification and recruitment of those adults with at least one child who meet enrollment requirements and are most in need of the program.

Measure

 

Record of the number of families enrolled and demographic information.

(same as program data requirements)

 

Record of participants length in program.

Data

 

Demographic Information with totals for the program required 10/1 and 6/1 of each program year:

·        # of adults

·        # of children

·        # of families

·        # of adults who are ELL

·        # of families at or below federal poverty level

Familia Inventory

Administered fall and spring to individual families.

 

·        Program totals and summary from subscales.

 

Indicator #2

 

Effective ongoing education for teachers and staff to ensure the provision of high quality family literacy programs.

 

Measure

 

List of educational training provided to Even Start staff and teachers, staff and teacher evaluations of educational training.

Kept at the site.

 

 

 

Indicator #3

 

Employ qualified staff.

 

Measure

 

Majority of the staff has a AA, BA or graduate degree.

 

Paraprofessionals will have high school diploma or GED (within 4 years).

 

Administrators have family literacy program operation training.

 

Staff Data

·        #  and % of professional staff with degrees

·        #  and % of paraprofessionals with diploma or GED

·        # and % of administrators with Family literacy training

Objective II

 

Even Start Programs in the State of Iowa will create school, family, community, and educational partnerships.

 

Indicator #1

 

Collaborative partnerships with public schools, community agencies, businesses, and local, state, and federal government agencies.

Measure

 

List of partnerships created and mutual benefits and shared services.

 

Inventory/checklist of available community support groups/resources to include the number of requests made each month for information about needed community support groups/resources.

 

Reasons for requests.

 

Record of follow through.

 

Use of information.

 

·        Written status report from partners and feedback on benefits and shared services.

·        Data used for planning and need analysis.

Objective III.

 

Even Start Programs in the State of Iowa will address the needs of diverse populations.

 

Indicator #1

 

Establishment of instructional programs that address the diverse needs and personal goals of adults, children and families.

Measure

 

Family logs personal interviews and successfully meeting the family goals.

Familia Inventory

administered in the fall and spring to individual families.

·        Program totals and program summary from the Familia Inventory

 

 

Indicator #2

 

Advocate for unmet needs and services for families.

 

 

 On site ‘needs assessment’ based upon family feedback used for planning.

Objective IV

 

Operate a high quality center-based program (where applicable).

 

Indicator #1

 

Use of environmental rating scale or self-study of program.

Measure

 

·        NAEYC Self  Study and Accreditation

·        Harms and Clifford Environmental Rating Scales

ECERS

ITERS

FCCERS

 

Data

 

 Status report on the selected measure of environment  rating, timeline and results.

·        Certificate or Rating

Revised:  4-2-03

 

 

Iowa Even Start Indicators of Quality for Programs