Section 441.118.1. Definitions.

“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.

[ARC 9257B, IAB 12/1/10, effective 2/1/11]