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READERS EVALUATE MICROSOFT EVALUATION

A record number of ExchangeEveryDay readers checked out the "Signs of a Bad Preschool" guide on the MSN homepage as noted in our issue of October 22.  Your feedback to us was strong and varied.  Of those checking in with us:

* 42% gave the guide a strong endorsement
* 26% gave an approval with reservations
* 32% were strongly opposed

Here is a small sample of your reactions:

The Evaluation is a useful tool for parents (and us as providers!), and is primarily on target in my opinion. I do see a few caution flags.  The advice to parents to "move on if you've heard something negative"  is excessive.  Sometime a particular site and family are not a good fit, not because anything is amiss in either, they just have different goals or expectations.  Also, clear policies and consistent implementation of same cause friction with some parents, hence they have a negative response that might not be justified.
The other area of concern I have is helping parents balance the idea of accessibility and flexibility with child/teacher needs for appropriate routine and  schedule in order to provide an optimum experience for the child.  Parents who breeze in and out, leaving their children at a different time every day, interrupting the classroom flow, make adjustment to the school environment and socialization with peers unnecessarily challenging for their child.  Parental respect for school schedule of activities (which in quality environments is based on appropriate practice) needs to be balanced with their pick up and drop off schedules.
�" Barbara Lynn, Community Presbyterian Preschol & Kindergarten

I read the negative article and then followed the link about what to look for in a good preschool. I felt that article had much more pertinent and important information. Two major objections to the "Bad Preschool" article, their first bottom line was to pass on any preschool that they had heard anything negative about. There's not a single school I know that someone wouldn't have something negative to say. Secondly, here in Massachusetts it is not unlikely, especially in tight budget years, for licensors to let licenses expire by 6 months or more. While it's not the best situation; it's not anything child care programs can control.  Once again, focusing on the negative, rather than the good, positive steps our field has made in the last 20 years really does a disservice to the dedicated people in the field. A little respect goes a long way.
�" Kim Baumhofer

I am concerned about parents being able to wade through the negative to understand the positive.
�" Thom Kermes, Miami, Florida

Thank you for sharing this reference.  It is disturbing to read the kind of information that is being shared with parents that may pass for the last word on Selecting a Quality Early Childhood Development Program.  Though passing references were made to NAEYC and to local licensing / regulatory agencies, the role of these agencies in educating and protecting children, parents and providers was undermined by inaccurate and over simplified editorial comments.  The role of Child Care Resource and Referral agencies was completely overlooked and informative and thoughtfully designed parent checklists were not referenced clearly for parents to locate.  While it may have been well intentioned, the information borders on shared misinformation.  For those who believe whatever they see in print, it may only add to the challenges parents face in selecting quality care and education for their children.  The most positive note in the article was the recommendation that parents start early in their search, visit each center and pay close attention to what they see and hear when they visit.  It would have been the perfect closing after citing a professionally developed parent checklist.
�" Sue Gartner, Child Care QIP, Austin, Texas

I am a family childcare provider working towards accreditation and have never worked in a center or preschool, so I may have a different perspective on what I consider a quality run program. However, in the sake of this article, I feel that it stresses very valid points that one should consider when seeking any type of care for their child.  Sadly, it is rare to find a preschool/childcare program with such high standards.  And for the few preschools/childcare programs across this country that may have such high standards, would the average waged parent (not to mention the minimum waged parent) even be able to afford the tuition to enroll their child?  Seems to me that the author of this article and the websites that published it should focus on just how important quality childcare is to all children and enlighten their audience to the long term horrors of the absence of such a program . . .  
�" Charmane Joiner, Quality Childcare Provider

There are so many alarming things about this article and the content of many of the links the article directed the reader to for further information.  Licensing inaccuracies, misleading information, incomplete information . . . just the title of the article itself would be unacceptable in a quality early childhood realm that it makes the rest of the article suspect of lack of knowledge or expertise.  This is a prime example of how information on the web can be more damaging than beneficial, but why would an inexperienced parent have a clue. There was no mention of contacting your local Child Care Resource & Referral agency for more information or for perhaps a different point of view!  I would have been much happier and a lot less concerned if there was a neon disclaimer that the so called BabyCenter experts might not have complete information or a popular early childhood point opinion!
�" Jené M. Costello, Child Day Care Association, St. Louis, Missouri

I thought it had some valuable information, but I take issue with several points. Separately preschool from "day care" (are we ever going to get rid of that label?) serves no one well.  Shouldn't we be talking part time vs. full time.  It doesn't give parents a lot of information about how to check on turn-over or staff compensation.  What I found most interesting was that in the section on curriculum, evaluating was misspelled (evalutating) and perhaps we should be forwarding this: "Steer clear of evalutating a school based on how many numbers and letters children are learning �" preschoolers aren't ready for a rigorous academic program" to the folks at ACF who are insisting that we do just that to Head Start through the odious NRSA.
�" Martha Childs

I feel that the articles were relatively well researched.  A few things did bother me. First I feel that if the school is getting rave reviews and checks out with the licensing agency along with a general check list; I believe it deserves a second look before you move on.  However I believe no child care center is right for everyone.
The NAEYC ratio really bothers me.  A 7:1 ratio!  Are the parents willing and able to afford such a ratio?  At our academic preschool we offer 8:1 for 2's, 13:1 for 3's, 16:1 for 4's and 5's and have a very successful program for preparing children for Kindergarten.  I think it's time someone challenged the fact that there is no study to prove NAEYC's ratios are better than other reasonable ones.
Why no mention of accreditation?  I think it crucial that preschools be looking toward accreditation and that the media educate the parents on the importance of a preschool having it.  We are currently going through A.P.P.L.E.(Accredited Professional Preschool Learning Environment).  This is one of several approved programs by the Florida Gold Seal Program, which is offered by the Florida Association for Child Care Management.  We are excited about how it is helping us  improve our quality and professionalism in all areas.
�" Tom Moore, The Learning Tree Preschools, Jacksonville, Florida

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